Formafantasma to vocalise Henri Matisse's vision with ‘Fold’ at 5vie

There are very few artistic creations that titillate emotions and propel dreamy visions like Henri Matisse’s famous ‘La Dance’ painting. Five unclothed figures, bound together in a trance-like dance, appeal to the viewer's curiosity. At the same time, they also set the tone for a calm mental recce, where random mystical thoughts can be poked at and questioned. Referencing the Fauvism paintings of Matisse, the ‘Fold’ lighting collection was designed by Italian design firm, Formafantasma. The objects are created in collaboration with Maison Matisse, an organisation established by the French artist’s family to keep his artistic vision alive and kicking through newer interpretations. These objects that make up the Fold collection and evoke the vibrancy of Matisse’s works, will soon be showcased at the 5vie design week as part of Salone del Mobile.Milano 2022.

“We have always been fascinated by the exploratory character of Henri Matisse's work, and in particular by his use of cut-out paper, to study shapes and colours,” shares the Formafantasma designer duo in a joint statement. While the entire range of Matisse’s works have served as an inspiration for the designer duo at Formafantasma, special focus was levied on the paper cut-outs which he experimented with during the final years of his life.

Maison Matisse, through their regular collaborations with contemporary artists and designers, aim to transmit Henri Matisse’s energy, vision and aesthetic into physical objects that can be touched and explored. As part of this initiative, they offer fresher and original perspectives of Matisse’s works. The items created thus are proponents of beauty that serve as reminders of 20th century art, yet never starkly imitate Matisse’s art. “We have chosen to collaborate with the Formafantasma, for their strong positioning which seemed very interesting to us: their poetic aesthetics, their work on balance and form, their way of working as a duo," saya Maison Matisse in an official statement.

The Fold lights, created as a limited edition collection, celebrate a very specific period in the French painter’s life. During his late sixties, when Matisse had taken ill and was unable to paint, he would compose cut out papers against each other in order to envision the commissions that he had received. Over the years, he took this practice up more seriously and a new medium of artistic expression was born. Picking up this special style, Formafantasma assembled components in 3D to give birth to ‘Fold’. All the lamps in the collection carry an abstract appeal, while also emitting the studio’s characteristic minimalistic aesthetic and ethereal charm. The collection comprises suspension lamps, wall lamps and floor lamps, the components of which are folded and bent into interesting shapes.

Formafantasma is a research and design studio headed by Italian designers Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin. With studios located across two European cities, Milan and Rotterdam, Formafantasma concerns itself with every entity in the field of design. They work on projects acquired through commercial contracts as well as on those that are autonomously initiated. Across the wide array of theoretical and practical work undertaken by them, a common denominator is ‘research’ focused on techniques, processes, materials, formats, and contexts. With a special focus on the ecological, historical, social and political influences on design, the studio attempts to understand and communicate their learnings to larger audiences. This results in visceral design outcomes that prick all senses. Over the years, they have conducted several workshops, designed a range of products, participated in experiential exhibitions and rendered various spaces with a charm and dreaminess that is informed by introspective assessment of both natural and material environments.

Apart from the ‘Fold’ collection, Formafantasma will showcase several other original works at the Salone fair in June this year. These include exhibitions and symposiums such as ‘: Prada Frames’ and ‘Tacchini’ and product launches, namely ‘T Shelf’, ‘Post Scriptum’ and ‘FFQT’ in collaboration with HEM, Cassina and Ginori and Quadro respectively.

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