DesignMiami/Basel came back with the regular format, after an absence of nearly three years
The sixteenth edition of Design Miami/ Basel was held June 14-19, as the first regular and in-person event since 2019. Curator of this year’s edition was Maria Cristina Didero, who, with the theme “The Golden Age”, brought together 34 international galleries and 18 Curio presentations. The 2022 edition of Design Miami/ Basel saw the introduction of Podium, a section of the fair dedicated to objects available to shop online at www.designmiami.com.
Galleries at Design Miami/ Basel 2022
Among the Galleries, historical works stood out this year. Among the best pieces was a prototype Moon Lamp by Gio Ponti showcased by Rossella Colombari, originally created for the Milan Triennale in 1957. Galerie Jacques Lacoste featured a series of rare works by French designer Jean Royére, including the Anneaux dining table and Anneaux console in orange and black painted metal and opaline glass (c. 1959).
Discover Design Miami/ Basel 2021 hybrid edition
Morentz gallery, awarded as Best Gallery, debuted at Design Miami/ Basel with an impressive presentation of 20th century work from European, American and Brazilian designers. The booth was designed as an exquisite home with a fireplace designed in 1959 by Italian architects B.B.P.R at the center.
Amongst the contemporary works on show, Friedman Benda’s solo showcase of New York designer Misha Kahn’s work presented new works from his best-known series. Paris-based Galerie kreo presented a number of impressive new works at Design Miami/ Basel including QUOBUS 2,4,6 TWO-COLOURED by designer Marc Newson and the Signal R Polychromatic reading light by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby.
At Carpenters Workshop Gallery the monolithic Constellation CO80 table in Red Persian Travertine by Beirut-based design duo David/Nicolas was a standout. From the designer’s Constellation series, CO80 is made of three travertine slabs connected by silvered brass zig-zag joints, hemispherical shapes cut out of the tables’ legs rotate from leg to leg, mirroring the lunar cycle.
Discover Design Miami/ Basel 2021 hybrid edition
The Curio Program
16 of this year’s 18 participants in the Curio program were exhibiting in Basel for the first time, offering a unique perspective on contemporary and historic design. Italian architect Stefano Trapani exhibited at Design Miami/ Basel for the first time with a series of works entitled The Essence of Experience, including Charles Dix, a contemporary interpretation of a Biedermeier desk. The rare white ebony of the desk has a strong black grain that looks almost like black ink drawings across the veneer.
Singapore-based Particle’s presented VELENI by design duo Lanzavecchia + Wai, an exploration of how humans continue to pollute the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe. The polluting substances in VELENI are beautiful – reminding us that poisons can be as fascinating as they are harmful – but are always lethal. The objects were presented in an empty booth: a white canvas on which their messages emerged loudly.
FAINA’s award-winning Curio presented a particularly timely presentation, entitled Stepping on Ukrainian soil. At the center of the Curio, Ukrainian-born designer Victoria Yakusha presented a handwoven, two-and-a-half-meter tapestry titled Zemlia (Ukrainian for “earth”), presented alongside a series of primitive benches sculpted by hand.
Podium, the selling exhibition
Curated by Maria Cristina Didero, Podium was a selling exhibition of over 30 exceptional, museum quality works, available to shop online at designmiami.com. Other highlights of the 2022 edition are the Best Historic Object award, given to a suite of office furniture by Pierre Poutout, 1970, presented by Galerie Meubles et Lumières, and the Best Contemporary Object: Planet by Astrid Krogh, 2021, presented by Galerie Maria Wettergren.
Design Miami/ Basel 2022 offered a rich program of talks, which were live-streamed, recorded and are now available online at designmiami.com.
