After its second edition, the fair, held in the Tuileries Gardens, seems to have become a must-see event among the highlights of the design year. In an elegant and minimalist setting, Matter & Shape presented the best of current design. Here's a look back at six presentations that impressed us.
cc-rug by India Mahdavi
A singular figure in the world of design and interior architecture, India Mahdavi is collaborating this year with one of the most exciting rug houses, cc-tapis, much to our delight. From this fruitful partnership has emerged the "Rebus" collection, a playful and joyful offering: a range of handmade pieces from Nepal that play with language, displaying an XXL-sized rebus. All of this is enhanced by vibrant colors.
Escritorio par Natalia Criado
The Colombian designer had already charmed us with her tableware, which reflected her heritage and her love of the Bauhaus. For Matter & Shape, she brings her world to the office! On offer are card holders, a letter tray, an iPad stand and an iPhone stand, a lamp, as well as two paperweights, a letter opener, a carafe, and rulers. A whole range of rather ordinary items that, once transformed by the designer, are given a new lease on life; thanks to their elegant silhouette, but also and especially to their handcrafted nature and the materials used, such as silver-plated brass and a selection of natural stones.
NM3
Founded by Nicolò Ornaghi, Delfino Sisto Legnani, and Francesco Zorzi, the NM3 design studio will only deepen your love for metal. Working for brands as diverse as Adidas, Off-White, Our Legacy, Sunnei, and Inter Milano Football Club, the Milanese designers presented a myriad of stunning pieces at Matter & Shape. On the agenda: NM27, NMAM_daybed, in collaboration with Alexander May, presented for the first time in its "Pony Air" version, as well as two works in collaboration with 6am, the coffee table NM21 CUSTOM and the lamp SYSTEM, both dressed in glass.
Alighieri CASA by Alighieri
While navigating a challenging period in her life, London-based designer Rosh Mahtani is said to have conceived her jewelry brand, Alighieri. The spark ignited when this French and Italian student took a wax sculpting class. Working with the material immediately reminded her of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri. She then decided to create, using wax, a piece of jewelry that would pay homage to each poem by the great Italian master. Alighieri was born. At Matter & Shape, the designer presented the extension of her brand, Alighieri CASA, with its tableware collection, "The Totemic Devotion," which she describes as "an invitation to create your own universe and your own ritual practices." Inspired by ancient totems and prehistoric rock formations, the collection comprises candlesticks and accessories related to the world of dining. All the pieces are sculpted in wax and transformed into gold and silver plated brass, thanks to the ancestral work of sand casting.
AALVO Gallery
The Brazilian gallery AALVO, based in São Paulo, is our favorite this year. With its presentation "Brasil, America," the gallery highlighted works that redefine America as a pluralistic territory and challenge the idea that America is limited to the United States, emphasizing the cultural richness of Latin American artistic production. Among the works that stood out to us was the office Jonico The Palma duo's work, made of fiberglass, resin, aluminum foil, and inlaid coins, evokes a silent and indecipherable narrative. The chaise longue and chair in solid Brazilian wood by Rafael Triboli were also among the exhibition's standout pieces.
Willo Perron for NO GA
The Los Angeles-based designer Willo Perron, who orchestrated the decor for this second edition, was also among the designers exhibiting this year, with a modular collection created for Nordiska Galleriet. This collection includes a series of tables and mirrors designed to be combined in various configurations. Handcrafted, these pieces are made using molded fiberglass, then lacquered and hand-polished for an ultra-glossy finish.
