A multifaceted artist, Gaetano Pesce was a leading figure in Italian design, especially radical design. His passing, on 3 April in New York after a lengthy illness, leaves a significant void in the world of Italian and international design. Across eight decades, Pesce revolutionised the world of art, design, architecture, and the liminal spaces between them.
His boundless creativity elevated ordinary furnishings into miniature masterpieces, exemplified by the Sunset in New York sofa, whose forms evoke New York skyscrapers, with the central backrest cushion resembling a vast semicircle in fiery red, symbolising the setting sun. Here are some other of his most famous designs:
Pesce was known for imbuing his creations with profound symbolic significance. His iconic anthropomorphic armchair from the UP series, affectionately nicknamed La Mamma, Big Mama and Donna has a bulbous shape and also features a ball-shaped pouf. The piece was conceived by the artist to evoke reflections on the status of women worldwide. Some perceive the armchair as a maternal figure, with the pouf symbolising her child. However, the pouf could also be interpreted as a ball and chain, symbolising the constraints and limitations imposed upon women.
See also: Gaetano Pesce's UP 2000: 'Big Mama' is Growing
One of Pesce's most unique and innovative design pieces is the Feltri armchair, a wonderful combination of art and functionality. Crafted from dense wool felt, a pliable material, its frame is filled with thermosetting resin, which gives it a certain rigidity. The outcome is a chair that adapts to the body in the upper part, while remaining solid and stable in the lower part. Pesce envisioned this armchair as a sort of a cocoon, a primal refuge that envelops and protects, reminiscent of a tribal cloak.
See also: 11 Eccentric Designs to Rest On
Pesce graduated in architecture from the University of Venice, where he studied under renowned mentors like Carlo Scarpa. Among Pesce's most famous architectural projects is the Organic Building in Osaka, Japan, finished in 1993. It's an innovative vertical garden-building with protruding 'pockets' that hold various plants, watered by a computerised system. This clever solution allows gardens to be placed directly on buildings, overcoming space limitations in crowded areas.
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See also: 10 Reasons to Buy Vintage
Pesce is also celebrated for his expertise in employing cutting-edge materials. Besides exploring polyurethane foam, he used resin, moulds, and casting techniques to create a vast range of objects, from vases and chairs to lamps. By pushing creative boundaries, he produced works that challenge convention. Influenced by renowned Murano glassmakers such as Moretti, Vistosi, and Venini, his own experimentation in glassmaking led to surprising results.
Gaetano Pesce's has passed away, but he leaves behind a profound legacy of singular creativity and artistic expression.
