Natuzzi, Italy’s largest furniture company and the world leader in leather upholstery is commemorating its 50th anniversary with an exhibition exploring the use of leather, which will take place during the London Design Festival (19-27 September 2009). The exhibition at the flagship store on Finchley Road will see the brand collaborate with five London based artists for the first time. Each has been briefed to produce a distinctive new piece of work incorporating Natuzzi leather, which will demonstrate the beauty and adaptability of this high quality material.
The following five artists are collaborating with Natuzzi on this exciting project and represent the five decades of Natuzzi:
Maria-Ines Aguirre - painter
Catherine Hammerton - designer-maker (Cockpit Arts)
Thomas de Hoghton - photographer
Lata Upadhyaya - sculptor and visual artist
Katherine Wardropper - 3D textile designer (Cockpit Arts)
The various skills being utilised during this design project are indicative of London's diverse melting pot of talent and will illustrate the many uses for leather. Although all of the collaborators reside in the London area the nationalities of the designers range from Argentinean to Indian, demonstrating London’s eclectic culture. The exhibition intends to capture all of these elements and is the perfect vehicle to celebrate Natuzzi’s 50 year heritage in leather craftsmanship.
The design projects are all currently underway and visitors to the Natuzzi store can expect to see an inspiring collection of work. Don’t miss delightful, textured wallpaper from Catherine Hammerton and bold canvases combining oil paints and leather by Maria-Ines Aguirre. Lata Upadhyaya will be creating a dramatic sculpture, while Katherine Wardropper will be using her unique 3D textile technique to create a leather wall hanging. Finally, photographer Thomas de Hoghton will be incorporating leather into his striking floral imagery.
The exhibition will run from the 19-27th September at the Finchley Road store. In October the designs will be donated to Italian charity "Il Circolo" who will host an event and auction at the Natuzzi store to raise funds for a scholarship programme. The scholarship will support designers and artists who wish to undertake a cultural exchange between the UK and Italy.
