A pall of drop cloth frames Francesco Balzano's 'INIZIO' at STUDIOTWENTYSEVEN

STUDIOTWENTYSEVEN, a design and art gallery in New York harbouring contemporary, limited edition and collectible designs, unveils its inaugural solo exhibition: a coming together of classical forms and contemporary ingenuity. For the show, gallerists Nacho Polo and Robert Onuska chose an artist who has been foundational to the gallery - Francesco Balzano.

In the exhibition titled INIZIO, the French designer and interior architect investigates the origin of things. Two series of works take the stage at STUDIOTWENTYSEVEN—Inizio and Loci—both speaking of the designer's ethos—a confluence of simplicity, craftsmanship and noble materials. Here, the sculptural forms vacillate between being intimate and monumental.

With curation and scenography by Polo and Onuska, INIZIO will remain on view from September 4 - October 4, 2024. "We wanted to showcase the strength of Balzano's work by creating an exhibition design that felt like an extension of the art itself—enhancing the experience without overshadowing it. This idea guided us as we transformed our space into something entirely new, tailored specifically for these collections," the curators tell STIR.

Based in Paris, France Balzano’s oeuvre encompasses minimal and timeless furniture designs, objects and interiors. His work dissects the dialogue between shape, material, scale, light and space. The designer's visual language draws from the beauty of Venice, Rome and Florence, where he grew up. His work pursues simplicity through noble materials, minimal lines and detailed architectural references. With craftsmanship at the heart of his product designs, Balzano works closely with master artisans to carefully breathe life into each piece.

Inizio, the first series on display, pays tribute to the power of nature and the sculptural soul of the forest. Primordial forms define the furniture partaking in the ensemble while the artist questions "the duality of monumentality and absence." Ensconced in a metropolis, the series—including table designs, a bookcase, a chair design, a stool design, a screen, a console, a bench and a vase—focuses attention on the fragility and value of nature in a rapidly transforming world.

The second series, Loci, contemplates the meaning of place. In the play of scale evident in the objects, the significance of places in personal and collective identities comes to the fore. What can places hold for us? Oftentimes, even the most public spaces can harbour intimate thoughts. The ensemble, comprising six monolithic precious cases, "considers how we protect what is most dear to us and construct personal temples to safeguard what is most essential."

When working out the exhibition's scenography, Polo and Onusaka wanted to create an installation that would highlight the sculptural monumentality of Balzano's work while offering a fresh framework to view each piece. "We took inspiration from the Gilded Age, draping all existing elements of the gallery entirely in drop cloth. The effect is an immersive atmosphere that feels like stepping into a grand estate left vacant at the end of summer, with the promise of something new just around the corner," the gallerists share.

Balzano’s works are strikingly framed in this composition, the gently folding curtains as if about to rise. The subtle lighting design draws focus to the designer's eight works and their rich narrative. The uncovered windows allow passersby to catch a glimpse of the ambience; the furniture and objects invite people to interact with their craftsmanship and vision. "When it came to the curation, we focused on presenting the pieces in a way that would resonate on both an intellectual and emotional level. We spent a lot of time experimenting with the placement, ensuring the flow felt natural and compelling," the curators explain.

While being reminiscent of dust covers once ever-present in New York mansions, the drop cloth is also a nod to the history of the textile building now home to the gallery. Furthermore, the exhibition looks back at two of modern art’s great visionaries, Cristo and Jean Claude, whose wrapped buildings revealed the familiar in new. This act of revelation through careful concealment, delineating the exhibition space, sheds light on the provocative simplicity of Balzano’s creations—a tension between the classical and the contemporary, the timely and the timeless.

Francesco Balzano's 'INIZIO' is on view from September 4 - October 4, 2024, at STUDIOTWENTYSEVEN in New York.