THE ART OF ITALIAN STYLE

There are few adjectives more evocative of style and flair than “Italian” – a term that, all over the world, represents desirability and a certain way of living. And yet, especially in relation to furniture and decoration, “Italian Style” defies definition simply because it is so broad, varied and versatile.

To one person it may be epitomised by the cool and clean-lined modernity represented by Italy’s globally renowned furniture brands, while to another it is defined by the richness of traditional ornamentation. Both are entirely accurate, both are ineffably Italian, for they are as much about an attitude and state of mind as they are about the discipline of design. Indeed, much of contemporary Italian design stems from age-old crafts and techniques that have been passed down, refined and adapted through the generations.

And that is the essence of the Italian Luxury Interiors exhibition: it brings together more than a dozen carefully chosen companies working in areas as diverse as textiles and lighting, with materials as varied as ceramic, gold leaf, leather and iron, harnessing skills as varied as hand-weaving, pottery and metalwork, in styles that range from the neo-baroque to a pared-down modernity.

And yet these exhibitors share a common approach: radically different from modern manufacturing, the instant gratification of fast production and the tyranny of fashion and popularity-seeking, they focus on quality rather than quantity, uniqueness rather than standardisation and, above all, the nobility and emotional resonance of the hand-made.

That helps to explain why, alongside century-old businesses that have been handed down through generations of the same family, some of the exhibitors are young companies, founded and run by a new generation of people who have been inspired by the fact that making things is perhaps the finest means of self-expression. Thus, the handcrafted pieces on show are as much about the people who make them as about the objects themselves.

There is a deep connection between all of the exhibiting companies, their products and their territory. Their inspiration derives from the heart of Italian culture and society, and from timeless artisanal traditions – that know-how handed down through the centuries. This, more than anything else, is the true and unique value at the core of the Italian Luxury Interiors collection, far outweighing the style of the objects or the materials used in their making.

Indeed, this exhibition takes us back to the true meaning of luxury – the rare and the precious, made with skill, passion and, most importantly in this era of high-speed everything, time. It is these qualities, not famous labels and inflated price tags, that place the objects on the right side of the line separating beauty from kitsch, uniqueness from banality, elegance from vulgarity, and a sense of style from mere ostentation. While all of the pieces raise furniture and domestic objects well above the level of everyday convenience, some are more obviously functional and others blur the distinction between a work of art and a piece of superior craftsmanship, between the master craftsman and the artist.

By their very nature, these products cannot be manufactured in large numbers and, as a result, the companies that make them range from very small artisan-workshops to more structured, yet still moderately sized companies. Thus Italian Luxury Interiors brings to light brands and products that, in many cases, have little international visibility at present, or work only with highly specialised distributors.

Rather than adhering to a uniform style, the exhibition itself has been designed to communicate the timelessness and relevance of this form of Italian luxury, as well as the poetry and emotional resonance of the objects. The show’s designers, from the Florence-based firm Artex, have curated pieces from each of the exhibitors, mixing and integrating them into a series of domestic room set-style installations that are arranged in an open and flowing pattern.

The absence of a standard exhibition-style grid structure creates compelling sight-lines, as well as spaces for visitors to pause and discuss the work. With no set path to follow, visitors instinctively slow down, contemplate and engage with both the objects and their makers.

To show products of such quality mixed together with skill and flair, and set in a domestic context, is not only more intimate and inspiring, it evokes the very spirit and atmosphere of living, Italian style.