The Salone Satellite couldn’t have been less spectacular or eclectic. The event saw an influx of visitors from all over the world marveling, talking and meeting with designers who were equally cosmopolitan; and this year amongst those who made the cut were two Indians as well – Komal Vasa and Rohit Kumar.
The design explorations were futuristic, intellectual and nostalgic and echoed the thought process and emotions of the human mind. A furniture collection titled Afterimage, designed by South Korean designer Bomi Park, gazed at your heart and made your mind wonder. The 3D furniture, made up of a mesh of wires, allowed one to have delusions about an otherwise motionless object.
Another beautiful makeover was the Shadow Clock, a piece which not only denoted ‘time’ but also brought to life the notion of its perpetual existence and immortality. The shadow clock designed by Hanshi Chen and Chuyu Chen was part of a display titled Beyond Object – a joint exhibit by London based studios Poetic Lab and Studio Shikai.
The joint exhibition featured another installation titled ‘Waves’ which explored the beauty of natural glass texture. Comprising of a gently rotating glass dome the installation projected a phantasm of oceanic waves once a focussed beam of light was projected through it.
Salone Satellite also a witnessed some eco-friendly installations; one such exhibit was based on Hydroponics. The technique of Hydroponics is characterised by the absence of soil – it simply uses mineral nutrients in water to grow plants. Designed by Live Screen Studios, the installation had a branched structure with clay pellets in oval cups at each level. Each cup which housed the plant was fed with mineral nutrients via a branched channel. The flow of the nutrients was controlled by gravity and re-initiated by a motor at the base of the central tube.
Upping the Indian ante at the fair was product designer Rohit Kumar and designer Komal Vasa. Kumar displayed a lounge sofa titled ‘Hive-Jacked’ which took its inspiration from a beehive. Also on display was a study table he had designed using wood, glass, leather and steel.
Unlike Hive-Jacked, Komal Vasa’s light installation, Mandala, was inspired by the Buddhist symbol by the same name which means spiritual tranquility and deep focus. Komal’s other creation, titled Mansara, was a metal-and-glass enclosure inspired by a parrot cage.
Known for guaranteeing the quality of its projects showcased by young designers under 35, the Salone Satellite also enhances their visibility quotient by organizing the Salone Satellite Award.
Contact
web: www.cosmit.it/en/salonesatellite
