Nilufar

Nina Yashar’s design gallery is a breath of fresh air in Milan when the Fiera, Tortona and showrooms have taken their toll. Yashar has since 1979 established herself as something of a maverick when it comes to spotting unique, contemporary designers doing something a bit different from everyone else.

This year’s exhibition ‘Panta Rei’ is one of the best things we saw in Milan. Starting with Martino Gamper’s arresting ‘nest’ installation of various reassembled woods, spreading like a parasite throughout the main showroom, Yashar’s entire collection was inspiring, imaginative and surprising.

The gallery played host to three more of our favourite young guns as well as Gamper. Johanna Grawunder (limited edition designer of our W*109 cover) has built a series of Sottsass’ architecture models from a range of materials, which together, displayed in Gamper’s ‘nest’ system in the window, made a very collectible set of objects.

Sarah van Gammeren, one of our next generation ones to watch (W*106), has expanded her Big Dipper ensemble, creating a 40-candle chandelier in black wax, which turns what was a delicate, poetic experiment into something altogether darker but every bit (and perhaps more) impressive.

22 April 2008 | Design