Designers: Ron Arad for Moroso, Francesco Ardini, Antonio Aricò for Editamateria, Mario Botta for Riva 1920, Andrea Bouquet for Eaditamateria, Lorenza Bozzoli for Colé, Andrea Branzi for Riva 1920, CarrerBikes, Antonio Citterio for Riva 1920, Claesson Koivisto Rune for Smaller Objects, Edoardo Colzani, Simone Crestani, Craft Combine, Cucula, Maarten De Ceulaer for Moroso, Maarten De Ceulaer for Victor Hunt Designart Dealer, Andrea Francesconi with Warm and Wood, Front for Moroso, Giraldi Calenda Design, Lock, Peter Marigold for Dilmos, Naanstudio / Sabina Bonfanti, Daniele Papuli for Dilmos, Paola Paronetto, Paolo Polloniato for Editamateria, Karim Rashid for Riva 1920, Maria Grazia Rosin, RuralUrban, Siba Sahabi, Tobia Scarpa for Atanor di Merotto Milani, Barbara Schweizer, Roberto Sironi for Editamateria, Pascal Smelik, Tête de bois, Tim van de Weerd, Walter Visentin for Dilmos, Debra Werblud, Zanellato & Bortotto for Moroso.
Curators: Luca Berta, Francesca Giubilei, Atemporary Studio.
Wood and Warp screen by Maarten De Ceulaer for Moroso, Briccole Collection by Ron Arad and Karim Rashid for Riva 1929, Bouisoun Consolle by Andrea Bouquet for Editamateria, Osso Table by Peter Marigold and Lounge by Walter Visentin for Dilmos, the Blowing Man by Antonio Aricò for Editamateria, Santiago clothes hanger and Oscarina chair by Tobia Scarpa for Merotto Milani.
Wood Obsession was the core that expressed the first edition of the Venice Design Biennial. The collective show took place at the ‘piano nobile’ of Palazzo Loredan in the central Campo Santo Stefano, main venue of the first edition of the Venice Design Biennial.
Wood obsession displayed a real material fascination that was in tune with the identity of the interiors of the exhibition venue itself. The walls of the piano nobile of Palazzo Loredan are coated with a wooden lattice that encloses its libraries. The strong personality of the setting spread to the exhibition itself, taking the undeniable presence of wood to its extreme by compiling works of several artists that work with the material in different mediums.
Agatha's Room by Paolo Polloniato for Editamateria, paperwork by Sabina Bonfanti/Naanstudio
The resulting setting was rich in dramatic tones, emphasised by the play of light and shadows by Sabina Bonfanti/ Naanstudio and interrupted only by the total white of the entry hall. Each room of the exhibition was infused with wood incense, provided by The Merchant of Venice; the five selected scents were Black Oud, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Scots Pine and Patchouly, traditionally used by the masters of perfume art.
Soft Wood Sofa di Front sempre per Moroso, Between Rivers felt vases by Siba Sahabi, Cartodendro Desco by Daniele Papuli for Dilmos
Patterned Pallet Chairs by Craft Combine, in the middle chairs installation by Lock Forniture, 3 Trois chair by Edoardo Colzani
Proliferazione vases by Francesco Ardini, Murano glass chandelier by Maria Grazia Rosin
On the foreground the hat holders by Claesson Koivisto Rune for Smaller Objects, on the background the Blowing Man collection by Antonio Aricò for Editamateria
Ph. Cristina Galliena Bohman
detail from Bouisoun Consolle by Andrea Bouquet