Nilufar contributes to NOMAD Capri 2023 with a beautiful, nature-themed exhibition

NOMAD is an internationally recognised platform, dedicated to honouring creativity and innovation in the realms of art, design, and architecture. NOMAD meticulously curates an immersive and memorable experience for its visitors, handpicking the locations, galleries, curators, and contributors for each edition. In its highly anticipated 12th edition that took place from July 6 - 9, 2023, NOMAD returns to Capri with an exhibition unfolding within the oldest structure on the island, a 14th-century monastery, Certosa di San Giacomo. This historical venue boasts vaulted rooms, magnificent cloisters and gardens, and breathtaking views of the Bay of Naples.

During NOMAD Capri 2023, Italian gallery Nilufar presented a unique design and art installation with nature and its organic elements as its central theme, in accord with the design fair's aspiration for interdisciplinary dialogue, through the exploration of various styles, techniques, and materials. Nilufar's design installation placed Christian Pellizzari's new creations as its core, around which, the exhibition design featured pieces created by the gallery's talented team of artists and designers.

Curated by Nilufar's founder, Nina Yashar, the display replete with art and collectible designs remained in harmony with the romantic surroundings of Certosa di San Giacomo. Within the exhibition, Pellizzari's pieces took centerstage, captivating viewers with intricate floral glassworks showcasing a fusion of natural elements behaving like climbing artworks gracefully adorning the walls. Complementing this were other remarkable pieces such as the eclectic sculptural creations titled Out of Nowhere by Anestis Michalis, and the iridescent low tables and desk from the Poikilos collection, crafted entirely from resin by Objects of Common Interest. Adding to this ensemble were the vibrant and ceramic Artichokes candle holders, two stools, and a long table designed by Lola Montes Schnabel. Lastly, the exhibit also featured the stunning Acquario mirror and console designed by Analogia Project.

'Clori' by Christian Pellizzari

Dedicated to his passion for design and art, Pellizzari has devoted his life to expressing his innate creativity. Inspired by Botticelli's Primavera, his installation focuses on the corner scene depicting Zephyrus the wind god announcing the arrival of spring. The installation represents a flourishing garden with Murano blown glass floral artworks articulating the beauty of nature and its adaptability to climate change. Sustainability also played a significant role, as the entirely recyclable pieces represented a circularity between times and materials. In collaborating with Yashar, Pellizzari embraced the opportunity to create smaller, human-sized design declinations, respecting her expertise and establishing an open dialogue.

‘Out of Nowhere’ by Anestis Michalis

Athens-based Michalis approaches his work with a contemporary perspective that embraces imperfection as an essential element of aesthetics. His practice mainly indulges in creating clay vessels that defy the traditional rules of the medium. Rejecting utility, Michalis explores the unlimited possibilities of clay with a narrative-driven approach to deconstruction and addition. By blending old and new ceramic techniques, Michalis incorporates natural elements like stones and organic metals into his clay, which inherently melt and transform, while maintaining distinct composition and form. Thus, moving away from the potter's wheel and emphasising hand-building techniques like pinch, slab, and coil, these unique and vibrant pieces encapsulated feelings and thoughts, transcending the notions of 'now' and 'nowhere,' pushing boundaries through form, glaze, colour, and experimental additions.

‘Poikilos’ by Objects of Common Interest

Eleni Petaloti and Leonidas Trampoukis, the creative duo behind Objects of Common Interest, a studio that focuses on blending art, design, and architecture boast of diverse projects ranging in scales, from objects to installations, immersive environments, and interior spaces. With a strong focus on materiality, concept, and especially tangible spatial experiences, the designers create still-life installations and experiential environments that captivate viewers. Drawing inspiration from the enigmatic phenomenon of iridescence, their Poikilos collection consists entirely of resin-made product designs.

These elegant pieces, including seats, table designs, lamp designs, and vases, are crafted using a unique resin recipe passed down by craftsman Ovidiu Colea. The pouring of this mixture into moulds and its manual treatment result in unprecedented visual effects while minimising material waste. Reflecting a natural cycle of change, these objects undergo a continuous transformation from liquid to solid, beautifully accented by the phenomenon of iridescence. Through masterful use of lines, geometries, and juxtapositions, these objects pulsate with ethereal beauty.

‘Artichokes’ candle holders, 'Light blue stools' and ‘Holding Space’ table by Lola Montes Schnabel

Painter, sculptor, filmmaker and designer, Lola Montes Schnabel presented a unique showcase featuring an array of peculiar and thought-provoking pieces in her signature aesthetic. The product designer's collection included 'Artichokes' candle holders handcrafted in Sicily, symbolising the poetic concept of la castraura, a metaphor for the nature of love. 'Light blue stools' made of waterproof cement and ceramic displayed original drawings by Schnabel on their surface, incorporating the Sgraffito technique to depict natural elements. Lastly, the 'Holding Space (for Cocteau)' dining table,' with its metal frame and hand-painted glazed ceramic tiles, mesmerized with a motif of hands, dragons, swans, and symbolic figures, with a purpose of beautifying any space they are placed in.

‘Acquario’ by Analogia Project

Italian designer Andrea Mancuso skillfully navigates the realms of fantasy and everyday life, representing this balance in his work. His approach is rooted in thorough research and a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling.

In his latest project named Acquario, Mancuso explores the translation of the natural world into domestic settings. Using ceramic and glass, the designer of the Anologia Project recreates an artificial oceanographic landscape. The collection comprises items that appear to mimic branches of corals and invented aquatic plants. Each piece features an undulating skin composed of mounted ceramic discs.

Mancuso employs an almost alchemical approach in colouring the discs. Through the firing process and collaboration with Ceramiche Sottosasso, the discs acquire a mottled patina-like appearance, ranging from indigo blue to turquoise green. The glass surfaces of the tables have been crafted in collaboration with skilled artisans. These blue-tinted glass sections are carefully placed over soil and melted to conform to the rough earth, resulting in a bubbling effect reminiscent of the restless surface of the sea when observed up close.

(Text by Aatmi Chitalia, Intern at STIR)