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“Luna Laffanour’s Italia Exhibition In Paris Showcased 《italia》 Design Icons With Bold Contemporary Art, Celebrating The Harmony Of Heritage And Innovation.”

BY SUNA MOYA - 04 NOVEMBER 2024

REIMAGINED

“A Dialogue Between Italian Design and Contemporary Art at Downtown+”

Luna Laffanour
Curator & Gallery Director

Luna Laffanour’s Downtown+ exhibition titled《italia》is a must see for fans of Italian contemporary art. Hosted at Hôtel de l’Industrie in Paris, the event seamlessly blends Italian design with cutting-edge contemporary art, combining classic craftsmanship with bold, modern perspectives. Luna and her team graciously guided me through an enchanting collection of furniture, objects, and paintings.

Since joining her family’s gallery, Laffanour | Galerie Downtown, in 2021, Luna has reinterpreted its modernist legacy by encouraging new artistic expressions. In 2023, she launched Downtown+, an initiative dedicated to curating exhibitions that blend artistic creativity with practical design. This initiative showcases unique pieces that spark dialogue on the intersection of function and form. Luna often took the lead in curating and organising these exhibitions, creating experiences that brought diverse artistic perspectives and design aesthetics to life, thereby enriching the gallery’s cultural impact. Drawing inspiration from her Franco-Japanese heritage, Luna reimagined modernist traditions, uniting iconic design with contemporary art to celebrate evolving creativity.

Upon entering the gallery, the space immediately captivated me with her vision. Downtown+ boldly reimagines design by blending styles and eras through a contemporary lens. We started by exploring Italian design from the 1960s and 1970s when geometry met rebellion. “I wanted to create a dialogue between the radical shapes of that period and the elegant simplicity found in the works of contemporary artist Nicolas Mehdipour.” Luna explained.

Nicolas’s vibrant and emotionally charged artwork resonates beautifully with the bold geometry of Italian furnishings, creating an unexpected harmony. The collection features iconic works by design legends such as Ettore Sottsass, Andrea Branzi, Gaetano Pesce, Joe Colombo, and Superstudio, with each piece sparking dynamic conversations with the others.

One standout piece is a red-striped cabinet prototype by Ettore Sottsass, which embodies the daring spirit of its era. Although it was conceived for a collection that was never fully realised, it exudes a rare sense of exclusivity. Nearby, other wardrobes by Sottsass, stained in vivid red aniline, share the same boldness, serving as a reminder of his relentless challenge to conventional design.

Across the room, Superstudio’s 1968 Le Canapé Bazaar sofa makes a striking impression, accompanied by its enclosed table. This Italian collective transformed furniture into a powerful blend of art and function, which still feels groundbreaking today. The sofa captures the rebellious essence of 1970s Italian Radical Design, questioning traditional boundaries with visionary flair and merging daring conceptualism with refined functionality.

Surrounded by Nicolas Mehdipour’s paintings, which evoke the wonder and nostalgia of childhood, the space bridges innocence and whimsy in scenes where curiosity shines through simple, heartfelt moments. Through colourful, earthy hues, he distils each memory into a warm and inviting experience.

The next exhibit featured Andrea Branzi’s Collie Anomalies Domestiques chair. This nature-inspired piece, crafted from lacquered birch wood with an industrial grey-painted base, represents Branzi’s innovative series from the 1990s, serving as an inspiring bridge between the organic and the avant-garde.

Another extraordinary piece is Ettore Sottsass’s flair for his 1968 cabinet, adorned with yellow and red stripes, which adds a vibrant touch to any room. Additionally, we noticed the Asteroid lamp, also designed by Sottsassin the same year, hanging on the wall. This lamp reflects elements of American culture, showcasing Sottsass’s unique ability to blend diverse influences into his work.

A 1994 coffee table by Gaetano Pesce, crafted from transparent resin and featuring uniquely styled legs, was designed for the Belgian store Du Jardin. Next to it is an undeniably cool grey armchair from Pesce’s Dalila series, made from metal-like foam. Additionally, another piece by Pucci de Rossi, which features leg-shaped compartments, humorously challenges the typical concepts of form and function in storage. This piece blends seamlessly with other works from the ‘90s, such as a wall lamp by Sottsass.

I was captivated by a painting by Nicolas Mehdipour that depicts a little boy stretched out like a starfish, gazing at a tiny puppy, a moment filled with innocence and curiosity. The boy’s wonder reflects the spirit of discovery that permeates this room.

“Colour breathes life into this space,” as pieces from designers like Sottsass and Andrea Branzi, along with organic ceramics, blend seamlessly into a layered, vibrant narrative of Italian design heritage. Each exhibit invites closer inspection, revealing stories that intertwine the radical with the playful. Every piece in the room seems to come alive, whispering its tale.

— Suna Moya