Salone
del Mobile 2002,
Milan
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 Most
of the journalists I spoke with towards the end of the fair felt that this
years biggest concentration of design and designers was a bit lackluster most
of the big Italian companies showed fewer new projects than in the past
and the party circuit was a bit more civilized. Reflecting during the flight
home I realized that this years Salone was in fact more focused than ever
and that in terms of level of design quality a major step in the right
direction. The American presence was phenomenal and the consensus gelled
to the fact that US designers have finally loosened the stranglehold on
design long held by the Europeans. From the likes of Jeffery Bernett and Karim
Rashid (who launched no fewer than 4 collections with as many manufacturers),
from the Hall 02 group - members of the critically acclaimed G7
group of two years ago to the super work at TAG Team. Even Target
made an appearance with new products by sometimes New Yorker Mr. P. Starck.
The Nordic Countries made an impressive appearance as well with hit shows
by David
Design, Offecct and Swedese the
Swedes know how to party and have you ever seen so many beautiful people
in one room? The Norway
Says lads were everywhere spreading their brand of cheer and working
some viral branding angles at the same time - it was good to see their
work reaching the production stage at various manufacturers.
The highlight
on the fairgrounds proper as always was the Satellite bldg. 9 where
the young and up and
comers hold court. Excellent presentations by groups like Antenna 02
- Werner Aisslingeršs inspired students from the Karlsruhe school -
presented a concept not a product a modern form of harvest - display
packaged as furniture that can be pulled apart to go.Yuriko Takahashi
did it again with some awesome designs and hopped from the Satellite
to Swedese where she has the "Twister" in production. The Dutch boys
from MNO made a nice presentation and proved once again that there
is something happening in Rotterdam.
 The
other standouts inside the fair were the perennial favorite Edra who
kicked off new collections by the Campana Brothers, Karim
Rashid and Massimo Morozzi, Ycami, Alias, Driade and Moroso also
made strong appearances. One of the best new collections was from Artifort who
launched a new sofa system by Patrick
Norguet a continuing advancement in the tradition that Pierre
Paulin started for the Dutch company.
The good parties were
great! And the design stars were everywhere.... Tom Dixon, Michael
Young, Stefano Giovannoni, Claesson
Koivisto Rune, Karim Rashid,
Jasper Morrison, James Irvine the list goes on and on....as usual the Cappellini party
that kicks off the show every year was a zoo - Swedish models clad
in Pucci bikinišs lounged around an indoor pool and made a nice juxtaposition
to the cold rain outside.
 The
retrospective of Cappellinišs output
over the last century was safely behind barriers so couldnšt be trashed
as in years past - There highlight was the impressive Fabio Novembre
lounge piece that dominated the entrance - and then there was Edra a
raging disco that pumped all night - by the time one staggered home
in the wee hours you realized that the show had indeed begun - and
Bar Basso...not to be outdone the Surface party nearly became the crowd
control disaster that Cappellini was
last year - as the design thirsty crowd bum rushed the security force
and tore a new entrance as several doors were taken off the hinges but
as Abitare said - thank you Karim
Rashid, thank you Romeo Gigli the latest pick of Ten avant-garde
American industrial designers "TAG Team" at Giglišs expansive space
near the canals outside the center of Milan Bombay
Sapphire flowed like rivers and the bar had to be closed down several
times due to guests getting out of hand once they were inside.The party
rocked till the wee hours fueled by the pumping sounds of DJ Tommaso
Toma and no one remembers how they got home or with who.
 Other
outstanding presentations outside the fairgrounds were Magis and
SCP at Super Studio Piu - in the same area Super Studio 13 hosted Pallucco and Bellato from
Italy as well as Derin from Turkey who made impressive appearances with
outstanding products. All in all this years show was consistent and focused.
The usual Milanese rain didnšt dampen spirits that were enlightened by
a level of design canšt be found anywhere else in the world. |
