Federica Sala – författare

This book is an exploration of the artistic world of Gianluca Pacchioni, from the backstage of his workshop in Milan to his incredible studio-house, as well as finished projects and open-air installations. It also touches on his inspiration, which is drawn from a mix of Italian classicism and Japanese minimalism, with a dash of French seventeenth-century decorative style. First based in Paris, where Pacchioni became a sculptor in the 1990s, and then in Milan, his hometown, his atelier constantly forges sculptures and limited-edition furniture produced for international clients. As a pioneer in the art and design world, his approach to art is experimental and innovative, and over the years he has shifted from iron to stainless steel, and his most recent works have been made with cast bronze and semiprecious stones and marble.

From Venice to the world, this special book recounts the prolific and original manufacture of Venini, the glass art company founded 100 years ago in Murano, Venice, by the visionary genius of Paolo Venini and Giacomo Cappellin. Over the course of a century, Venini has pursued the goal of innovation in keeping with tradition: the brand has transformed the ancient art of glassmaking by intersecting it with the modern visions of artists and designers. It has gained international fame and become the obsession of collectors all over the world. Venini objects are present in private collections, as well as museums and public institutions. The book describes the evolution of Venini s taste, style, and innovation, thanks to the images and stories of key designers and art directors, such as Paolo Venini, Carlo Scarpa, Gio Ponti, Gae Aulenti, Ettore Sottsass, Alessandro Mendini, Tadao Ando, Ron Arad, and Peter Marino. The imagery includes about 150 illustrations: photos of glass, archive documents, original drawings, and a photoshoot carried out in the furnace itself. These images will allow readers to enter the beating heart of Venini craftsmanship and observe all the stages of glassmaking. The book is organized by subject, focusing on content clusters and thematic associations, such as Murano and the Orient, colour, collecting, texture, and the bestiary.

Beirut and the Lebanese interior, design, and sweet life scene; Paris and Milan; high-end residential interiors, collectible design projects, and contemporary art; motorbikes and on-the-road adventures this is the fascinating world of architect and art collector Gregory Gatserelia, a Canadian-Lebanese designer with Georgian origins. The book features photos of interiors, private houses, and restaurants, with the common thread of decorative ceilings, Gregory Gatserelia's signature. Difficult to catch and to sit down with, Gatserelia has always been focused on doing rather than communicating and advertising. As such, this book represents his first-ever collection of projects and a moment of reflection. The book talks about the smoky, fascinating atmosphere of Beirut with vintage photos and a map of the jewel-town. Gatserelia helped raise awareness and promote contemporary art in the city, and he founded SMO Gallery to promote new talents. The book also includes interviews by Federica Sala with Patrick Perrin (Founder of PAD), Victor Gastou (Gastou Gallery), Jacopo Foggini (Italian designer), and Najla El Zein (artist, SMO gallery).