POSTED BY HDFASHION / April 16TH 2024

LOEWE Shines at Salone del Mobile 2024 with a Dazzling Collection of Artist-Designed Lamps

At this year's Salone del Mobile in Milan, the prestigious Spanish fashion house LOEWE has unveiled an extraordinary collection of lamps, marking its most ambitious endeavor at the fair to date. From April 15 to 21, the historic Palazzo Citterio is the stage for "LOEWE Lamps," a captivating exhibition showcasing the work of 24 internationally celebrated artists.

Each of these artists, who have enjoyed a longstanding collaboration with LOEWE, have ventured into the world of light design for the first time, creating an array of floor, table, and suspended lamps. The central theme of the exhibit revolves around the medium of light, with artists exploiting and manipulating its properties to reflect their unique creative practices.

The showcased lamps are not only functional but are profound expressions of art, utilizing a diverse range of materials from bamboo and birch twigs to horsehair, and experimenting with the effects of translucency through paper and lacquer finishes. The artists have ingeniously played with materials to form a dialogue with light, creating designs inspired by both natural and man-made forms.

Among the standout pieces is a suspended lamp by Genta Ishizuka, a 2019 LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize winner. His design features an amorphous organic cell-like shape, finished with layers of urushi lacquer stripped back to reveal hints of gold, creating a mesmerizing glow. Another highlight is the work of Dame Magdalene Odundo, who has deviated from her traditional ceramic vessels to create a dramatic leather hanging lamp, with sharp, curled peaks emanating from its core.

Enrico David presents a table lamp that mirrors the human form, reflecting his fascination with metamorphosis and transformation, while Hafu Matsumoto showcases his mastery over bamboo through a delicately interwoven table lamp. Alvaro Barrington and Zizipho Poswa bring personal narratives into their designs, with Barrington’s lamp drawing inspiration from the metal shutters of New York storefronts and Poswa’s piece evoking memories of her childhood in South Africa’s Eastern Cape.

The full list of participating artists is as follows: Alvaro Barrington (Venezuela), Nicholas Byrne (UK), Enrico David (Italy), Andile Dyalvane (South Africa), Ernst Gamperl (Germany), Kazunori Hamana (Japan), Anthea Hamilton (UK), Akiko Hirai (Japan), Joe Hogan (Ireland), Ann Van Hoey (Belgium), Genta Ishizuka (Japan), Dahye Jeong (South Korea), Takuro Kuwata (Japan), Jennifer Lee (UK), Young Soon Lee (South Korea), Anne Low (Canada), Hafu Matsumoto (Japan), Magdalene Odundo (Kenya), Zizipho Poswa (South Africa), Magali Reus (Netherlands), Chikuunsai Tanabe IV (Japan), Andrea Walsh (UK), Cerith Wyn Evans (UK) and Shohei Yokoyama (Japan).

In addition to the lighting collection, LOEWE continues to blend craft with fashion, introducing new homeware items and reimagined versions of their iconic bags. Notable are Hafu Matsumoto’s bamboo reinterpretations of the Puzzle and Hammock bags and Ann Van Hoey’s leather bowls, each showcasing the distinct skills and artistic visions promoted by LOEWE.

This year's presentation not only highlights LOEWE's dedication to craftsmanship but also reinforces its role in fostering creative innovation at the intersection of art and design. With every item exclusively available at Palazzo Citterio and the LOEWE Montenapoleone store, this event is a celebration of artistic collaboration and a testament to the brand's commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional craft and design.

Courtesy: LOEWE