In the dining room, 1950s wall lights, by Stilnovo; bar cabinet, by Osvaldo Borsani; ‘Locus Solus’ armchairs, by Gae Aulenti, for Poltronova; table, by Ignazio Gardella; and ‘109’ pendant from the Progetto Non Finito collection, by Dimore Studio. Artworks are Nero, 1964; Grigio, 1988, both by Agostino Bonalumi; and Due Ovali Metallizzati, 2006, by Turi Simeti
Anyone wanting a quick peek at Dimore Gallery’s contribution to this year’s London Design Festival should head to Mayfair’s Mazzoleni Gallery. The Milan-based design all-rounders have transformed the space into a five-room apartment, where modern art sits alongside vintage and contemporary furniture. But a peek is all you’ll get. Visible only through a porthole, each room is no more than a mise en scène – you can look but you can’t touch.
The show, conceived by Dimore Gallery (which has shared its preparatory collages exclusively with Wallpaper*), is the first in a series of collaborations entitled ‘Mazzoleni Invites’. ‘We want to work with people from fashion, design, architecture – those who are outside fine art but influenced by it,’ explains Mazzoleni’s managing director Mira Dimitrova, who is set on bringing ‘a different viewpoint and audience to the gallery’.
In the dressing room, ‘Lampada 114’ and ‘Armadio 098’, both from the Progetto Non Finito collection, by Dimore Studio; pair of ‘Mod. 1943’ wall lamps, by Max Ingrand, for FontanaArte; and armchair and dressing table, both by Paolo Buffa. Artwork is Base Quadrata, Modulo 3, Taglio Semplice Pluridirezionale, 1969, by Paolo Scheggi
Dimore was the obvious first partner. Mazzoleni has collaborated with its founders, Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci, on several occasions. It loaned the duo art for an exhibition at this year’s Salone del Mobile, and in 2016 collaborated on a private apartment in Rome for Fendi (see W*204). Mazzoleni provided Fendi with art, while Dimore took care of the interior. ‘Mazzoleni let us pick and choose from its archive,’ recalls Moran. ‘That was a fun shopping trip!’
For the London show, Dimore has again had the chance to rifle through Mazzoleni’s treasures. ‘We were given carte blanche,’ says Moran. ‘Initially we wanted to create something borderline kitsch. Instead it has turned out to be rather elegant,’ he explains. ‘We try to venture off, but the colours and materials always end up feeling Italian in everything we do.’
Dimore’s style, of which Mazzoleni shows a fleeting glimpse, is taking permanent hold elsewhere in Mayfair. This October sees its first showing at PAD, as well as the unveiling of its new jazz club in the The Arts Club’s basement. Next year, a showroom for a watchmaking client opens in the Royal Arcade. Its time in London has come.
As originally featured in the October 2017 issue of Wallpaper* (W*223) – on newsstands 15 September
Each room is no more than a mise en scène, visible only through a porthole. Pictured, the dining room, and the bedroom.
In the bedroom, ‘Cityscape’ screens, by Paul Evans, for Directional; ‘Model 1842’ floor lamps, by Josef Frank, for Svenskt Tenn; 1940s wall-mounted consoles; 1950s Salottino armchairs; ‘Trilobo’ wall lights, by Venini; 1950s cherry wood bed; and ‘Palm’ carpet, from the Progetto Palmador collection, by Dimore Studio. Artworks are Rilievo O Elementi Curvi, 1967-1972, by Getulio Alviani; and Bianco E Nero, 1968, by Agostino Bonalumi
The living room features a chaise longue by Marcel Breuer; pendants by Gino Sarfatti and Archimede Seguso for Arteluce; ‘Cityscape’ low table, by Paul Evans for Directional; ‘Fungo’ lamps, by Gabriella Crespi; ’Confidential’ sofa, by Alberto Rosselli, for Saporiti; floor lamp, by Gofferdo Reggani; and ‘102’ sofa, from the Progetto Non Finito collection, by Dimore Studio. Artworks are Mernoek, 1989, by Victor Vasarely; Concetto Spaziale, Attese, 1962, by Lucio Fontana; Giallo 1969, by Agostino Bonalumi; and Concetto Spaziale, 1968, by Lucio Fontana
The living room, and the bathroom
In the bathroom, ‘Mod. T - 792/MF’ ceiling lamp, by Hans Agne Jakobsson; ‘Mini Arco’ console, by BBPR studio, E Peressutti, L Barbiano di Belgiojoso and E N Rogers for Olivetti Synthesis; ‘Mod. P600’ table lamp, by Gino Sarfatti; ‘Bouquet’ wall lamp, by Hans Kögl; and toilet set, by Gio Ponti in collaboration with G Labalme, G Pozzi, A Rosselli for Ideal Standard. Artworks are Concetto Spaziale, 1961, by Lucio Fontana; Smettere in Moto, 1978-1979, by Alighiero Boetti; Concetto Spaziale, 1965, by Lucio Fontana; Superficie Blu, 2004, by Enrico Castellani; Superficie a Testura Vibratile, 1962, by Getulio Alviani; Concetto Spaziale, Attese, 1959, by Lucio Fontana
Installation view of the dressing room at Mazzoleni Gallery.
INFORMATION
‘Mazzoleni Invites: Dimore Gallery/(Un)Comfort Zone’ is on view until 24 September. For more information, visit the Mazzoleni Gallery website and the Dimore Studio website
ADDRESS
Mazzoleni Gallery
27 Albemarle Street
London W1S 4HZ
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