Elena Salmistraro x Alessi reimagine the Nativity scene for ‘Holyedrics’

"My creations are the result of a combination of art and design; utmost care for details, and painstaking search for the harmony of shapes and poetic style characterize my projects. One of my work’s priorities is the search for the expressive language of objects, which may fascinate people by evoking emotions," shares Elena Salmistraro, Italy based product designer and artist. Salmistraro has used her design principles such as care for details, expressive language, and poetic style in a beautiful harmony throughout her product design.

Salmistraro weaves a striking visual narrative with her collection ‘Holyedrics’ in partnership with Italian lifestyle brand Alessi, a polyhedric reinterpretation of the classic Nativity scene.

The collection incorporating two plates, two cups, and a bowl with the same design along with the nativity figurines, blends vast cultural preferences, underlining the heart of the celebration of the festivity. Composed of a mosaic of gold, pixelated colours, and rigid geometry, it merges accents from international cultures and traditions from across the continents of South America to Asia and Europe.

The well-known Nativity scene has been artistically rendered by Elena into what she refers to as "her interpretation of Christmas." Elena grasped a varied approach and thought of crafting objects that could be displayed all year round hence she worked with the concept of nativity figurines as modern contemporary sculptures—incorporating polyhedral shapes and christening ‘Holyedrics’, a combination of holy and poledric.

The collection is an interplay of pure, strong, expressive, almost brutalist volumes. A fascination with the concept of polyhedrality lurking beneath the concept of religion, particularly the idea of the nativity in the world, pushed Elena to explore how everything is both different and the same at the same time, “The different identities, the different readings, the different point of views, all different but at the same time all similar,” says Elena. The pixel decoration, very similar to an ‘interference’ symbolises an overlapping of concepts, elements, cultures, and colours that unify peace, joy, and coexistence.

“It is always nice to deal with people that are courageous, careful, knowledgeable, and who still believe in the power of ideas and experimentation.” shares product designer Elena on collaborating with Alessi.

The collection is diverse, and Alessi stays true to its italian brand has made it a perfect setup for a Christmas table conversation starter. In the future, the collection will expand by introducing the ‘Three Magi from afar’ and expanding the tableware line.