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Close proximity to nature inadvertently stimulates a creative response from us. When serendipitous encounters with natural entities can elicit powerful reactions and thoughts, what can living in natural zones for an extended period of time do to people especially inclined towards art and design? Figments of these experiences can be witnessed in Naturamagica, an exhibition showcasing a collection of stone objects and nature photographs developed by the Roman designer Federica Elmo and photographer Bea De Giacomo during LABottega’s residency program. Currently on display at LABottega’s gallery in Tuscany, Italy, this collection of sculptural art pieces and landscape photographs have been curated into an experience by Serena Del Soldato and will remain on view until 30 September 2022.
Established in the 1920s, LABottega is a space in Marina di Pietrasanta dedicated to all kinds of social, cultural, artistic and culinary experiences and experiments. Nestled in the lap of nature, with bountiful views of the Versilia sea, this haven exudes rawness and purity in all its offerings. The food is unadulterated, the lodging spaces unspoilt and untampered and the Le Stellata farm vastly spread out like a 3-D canvas ready to be smeared with creativity. This unique and versatile space houses four main areas, namely ‘The Rooms’, ‘The Farm’, ‘The Kitchen’ and ‘The Gallery’. The Rooms, constructed as a minimalist spot, are decorated with contemporary design elements. They offer a comfortable space for rest and leisure. Emerging from this space for rest and repose, one enters the farm, which sits on the Versilla hills and overlooks the sea through a barrage of around 300 Quercetan olive trees. Seated in this forest, with a healthy inflow of fruity aromas, cool breeze and unhindered views, creatives are offered the opportunity to confront their deepest sentiments, hence materialising evocative creations. Their gallery, dedicated to presenting exhibitions, is a meeting spot for design, art and photography, while the LABottega Kitchen project offers bespoke culinary experiences guided by the local taste palette.
The invigorating sanctum allowed Italian designer Federica Elmo and Milanese photographer Bea De Giacomo to connect with their primal artistic instincts. The result is a body of work that represents the magic of nature. The residency programme by LABottega is built on the essence that states: “When we find ourselves in close contact with nature, we unconsciously begin a process of creation.” The architecture of the space echoes this idea. While Elmo’s stone sculptures encapsulate the essence of the terrain that spreads across this north-western corner of Italy, Giacomo’s photographs capture its scenery at its softest and most beautiful.
Elmo, a Milan based industrial designer whose artistic language is usually characterised by dry geometries, bright solid colours, shiny finishes and an overall industrial feel, took cues from her surroundings and infused a rugged and raw look in all table design pieces. Built using marble, terracotta, and powder-coated metal, her totemic pieces that squander as stools and tables are artifices that serve as an ode to nature. The three materials hybridise into utilitarian objects that can store fruits and flowers from the groves and gardens of Marina di Pietrasanta. While Elmo’s metallic side table is affixed with a centrepiece that can store citrus fruits, her bedside table comprises inserts of shrub branches and her unique vase, crafted to hold flowers and branches, mimics the natural textures of rocks and sands.
Milanese photographer Bea De Giacomo’s series of photographs, on the other hand, weave a more literal story. They arrest the image of the landscape and the river like a dreamy vision. Her visual narrative depicts a bizarre and enchanted mood in which humans and nature coexist. Capturing the natural enchantment of light, they visualise the passage of that stretched time that causes things to change and nature to continue without us
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