Vaspaar’s new contemporary collection is informed by a touch from the past

“I believe there is an overlap, a grey area between old and new, industrial and artisanal, materic and ethereal, light and heavy… and with my projects I like to delve, explore, and express myself with this duality,” says Andrea Grecucci, a designer and independent creative based in Milan, Italy. The compatibility between the past and present is almost fascinating, two diverging languages amalgamating to birth a new one—a visual consolidation of eras sitting far apart on a timeline, a reflection of their clandestine rapport. The knowledge and appreciation of history is accompanied by a perspective that not only complements modern views, but entails singular offshoots of processes fading into oblivion. Guided by this approach, Vaspaar, a digital design gallery co-curated by Grecucci with his partner Kaisha Davierwalla, introduces a contemporary design section, an addition to its extant collection of mid-century Italian design. The section features unique creations by Grecucci—a geometric coffee table and two series of sculptural vases—that will be followed by ensembles by other creatives of the Milanese diaspora.

Vaspaar—a word that encapsulates the gallery’s purpose and its modus operandi—is an ancient Persian term translating to ‘the provider of all things,’ a concept ingrained in the Zoroastrian community, into which Davierwalla was born. The digital gallery was conceived with the intent of fostering the contemporary art practice of collecting-a practice that demands dexterity along with a deep appreciation of each piece and the myriad of meanings it carries for its owners-and to make the experience more accessible and comfortable. Vaspaar houses an extensive and rich roster that encompasses original works by masters such as Gaetano Pesce, Ugo La Pietra, Gio Ponti, Franco Albini, Alessandro Mendini, and Superstudio. Developed as part of the italian group ‘Materie Prime’ (Raw Materials) with which the designer is affiliated, the new section addresses the contemporary clientele’s inclination towards new visionary creatives. “To our surprise and pleasure we see that even if the age difference is significant from the earlier perceived collector demographic, that good taste and obsession for the authentic historic find still prevails and thrives in today’s young collector,” says co-curator Kaisha Davierwalla.

The Genesi coffee table is a functional furniture design that features the conjunction of random structures of open-cell aluminium foam and the rigidity and preciseness of the industrial metal processes developed by humans over the years. What begins as elementary cylinders and planes, evolves into a naturally multi-faceted, brutal, and unruly silhouette, evocative of natural phenomena, pressure, strata bonding, friction, and the processes of aggregation of minerals and rocks in the universe.

Neocene vases series brings to light vases sculpted out of monolithic blocks of the autochthonous alabaster, exclusively found in the Volterra region of Tuscany. Grecucci injects the sedimentary nature of alabaster into the composition, paying homage to years of geological mechanisms that culminate in this graceful material. The vases surpass their functional aspect and shapeshift as sculptural objects, a fragment of design culture in dialogue with the existing furnishings in an abode.

A colder metallic aesthetic takes shape in the Proiezione series. Realised in stainless steel, the unyielding surfaces of the vases embody a silence. Although the compositions are rooted in the proportionality between height and diameter enunciated in the essential golden ratio, what comes to the forefront is the duality of human-made and natural. The pieces are formulated to accommodate flowers, small objects, fruits,  even function as decorative elements for a contemporary home.

Davierwalla and Grecucci, continue their crusade to instil a modern approach in the practice of collecting, offering design enthusiasts the opportunity to discover and acquire historical and contemporary pieces through a transparent and informal approach. “As designers and creatives, I believe we must keep in great consideration the masters, the techniques of the past, the ways things were made, that’s what fascinates me about our mid-century collection and the research we put into it,” shares Grecucci. The contemporary collection revolves around the primary philosophy of strategically selecting artisanal niche sectors struggling in the current economic landscape, and reviving them through unique pieces and limited editions. With this extension of its repository, Vaspaar aims to reignite the stifling appreciation of ancient artisanal practices and craftsmanship, using new-age components to fuel the preservation of their untapped potential.