HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAD LONDON 2022 BY SHALINI PASSI

Highlights from PAD London 2022 By Shalini Passi

The 14th edition of PAD (Pavilion of Art and Design) opened in London at Berkeley Square displaying designs from 62 international galleries from around the globe, revealing a vibrant design spectacle that has revived after two years. The fair saw 21 new galleries that have exhibited this year, including New York-based gallery Cristina Grajales Gallery; Spazio Nobile from Brussels; London dealer Mélissa Paul; and Philippe Gravier, Maison Parisienne, Ceramics Now, and Chahan, all from France. Introducing its audience to the latest ventures in the arenas of art, craft, architecture, furniture, and jewellery design with a prominent focus on the ideas of sustainability, craftsmanship, and reinvention, hence bringing the fair’s founder Patrick Perrin’s vision together in a synchronous harmony.

1. Galerie Maria Wettergren, Booth A14

Maria Wettergren showcased a refreshingly vibrant collection of futuristic designs, peppered with organic narratives, woven in mesmerising sculptural installations by Mathias Bengtsson, Hanne Friis, Astrid Krogh, Gjertrud Hals, Signe Emdal, Boris Berlin, Germans Ermičs, Rasmus Fenhann, Line Depping, Ditte Hammerstrøm, Etienne Bertrand Weill, Tora Urup, and Lotte Westphael. One of the standout pieces was the otherworldly cosmic ruminations in Astrid Krogh’s Planet, which explored the sensory experiences that shape the elusive relationship between soul and universe, perfectly complementing Hanne’s hand-stitched textile sculptures.

Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Booth B19

The gallery is known to exhibit limited edition pieces that embrace experimental artistic traditions. Founded by Julien Lombrail and Loic Le Gaillard, the gallery is a space dedicated to artistic research and innovation, focusing on the emotional relevance of sculptures. Carpenters Workshop is known to bring together elite artisans under one roof, celebrating the emotive aspects of tactile artworks. The main highlight from the booth is Paul Cocksedge’s sculpture Light and Shade, consisting of led sheets suspended in mid-air, creating the illusion of stillness found in illumination. The gallery presented the works by Nick Koronis, Charles Trevelyan, Paul Cocksedge, Roger Herman, Sylvain Rieu-Piquet, Atelier Van Lieshout, Martin Laforet, Giacomo Ravagli, Vincenzo de Cotiis, Kendell Geers, Pierre Jeanneret, David&Nicolas, Ingrid Donat, Rick Owens, and Nacho Carbonell.

3. Portuondo Gallery, Booth B22

The dominant aesthetics of the architectural designs offered by artists and designers at Portuondo were embedded in the creative sensibilities of 20th century design, which synthesised an eclectic blend of contemporary art and classic designs. The gallery has an international presence in New York City, London, and Madrid, and is led by the innovative duo Hugo Portuondo and Diego Portuondo. The participating artists for this year’s booth included Max Ingrand, Michel Armand, Bernard Govin, Jean Yves Lanvin, Dominic Bayne, among many others.

Cristina Grajales, Booth B21

Founded by Cristina Grajales in 2001, the gallery made its debut at PAD London this year, bringing its renowned contemporary design expressions across the Atlantic waters to the avenues of the Berkeley square. The booth exhibited artisanal designs of Christopher Côme, Paula Hayes, Randy Polumbo, alongside fellow visionaries. The designers involved with the gallery introduced the New Yorkers and observers alike to the post-war European aesthetics. The prominent highlights of the booth were Randy Polumbo’s LED and glass sculptures that were inspired from naturalistic vegetal forms and Côme’s iconic enamel and glass designs.

Ammann Gallery, Booth B27

Gabrielle Ammann, the founder of Ammann Gallery through her initiatives has provided a versatile forum to architects, designers, and artists to showcase their avant-garde concepts and artworks. With a multidisciplinary approach, the gallery has established itself as one of the most innovative platforms in the contemporary world of design. In this year’s edition, the gallery featured designs by emerging and world-renowned designers Ad Hoc, Ron Arad, Hélène Binet, Shi Jianmin, Satyendra Pakhalé, Studio Nucleo, Rolf Sachs, Abel Zavala and for the first time, Sumie García Hirata, Thierry Jeannot and Carsten Lemme. Ranging from the meticulously designed furniture designs by Ron Arad to the immaculate bronze sculptures by Satyendra Pakhalé.

Maisonjaune Studio, Booth B26

Maisonjaune Studio has always claimed a sensitive and authentic approach to design and its functionality. A Paris-based space, with an eclectic selection of rare design pieces, following the expressive vision of Elodie and Julian Regenier, brought together designs by Bob Kinzie, Ettore, Sottsass, Claudia Salocchi, and Mario Ceroli.

The studio has a background in producing and collecting vintage artworks and furniture pieces, inspired from the aesthetics of the 60s and 70s. The exhibit seemed to favour a dynamic range of wooden tables, book shelves, and chairs. The warm colour palette permeated the aesthetics of the collection as a whole, giving the booth its classic vintage charm.