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Marks of Existence: An Expansive Exhibition for the Mind by Movimento

10.31.24 | By
Marks of Existence: An Expansive Exhibition for the Mind by Movimento

During this year’s PAD London, Movimento Gallery presented Marks of Existence, an exhibition designed and styled by Artefatto Design Studio. The immersive space, celebrating the richness of organic material, is intentionally limited to just three: Travertino Ascolano, a classic stone prized around the world for its undulating texture and depth of color, a wooden Ikat weave, highlighting the beauty in natural imperfection, and a fiber composite, lacquered to a super glossy, high-shine finish. The nine designers worked within these constraints to produce nine distinct designs, each their own unique take on how these three players can come together in harmony.

Modern interior with a stone console table and abstract wall mirror against a textured reddish-brown wall.

This exhibition centers around the Buddhist philosophy surrounding the presence and balance of life – marks of existence. From the gallery, “In Buddhism, the three marks of existence are three undeniable truths of all that exists: impermanence, imperfection and incompleteness. The three marks of existence have inspired numerous ideologies around the world that search for beauty in the imperfect, embrace the incomplete and celebrate the impermanent.” This collection does just that, mirroring technological advancement with materials that have been around for eons. Blending the ancient and modern, Marks of Existence manages to step outside both traditions to create something collaborative and fresh.

A minimalist room with brown walls and floor, featuring a geometric metal console, a rough-hewn stone stool, and an abstract wall art piece.

Remarkably futuristic yet reminiscent of another time, the CVX Console from Artefatto Design Studio curves gently around a singular platform. The high gloss finish over the warm-toned gray combined with the solidity of the footprint evokes a spaceship feeling, a captain’s console overlooking the main flight deck. This color is so nostalgic for many of us, gracing the earlier versions of technology we might have grown up with.

Minimalist room with brown walls and floor, featuring a gray armchair, a black side table, a round stone stool, and an abstract wall mirror.

Artefatto makes immersion apparent from the similar tone between the floor and the walls. This, along with offset lighting panels spanning the whole width of the ceiling, adds to the encompassing effect unique to the exhibition. The deep brick red lets the cooler-hued upholstery shine, like in Artefatto’s Mesoa Lounge Chair, while the yellow tones in the stone are accented beautifully, seen here in the Era Mirror, by Studio Zero, and 0 to 1 Side Table, by Celo1 Studio.

Minimalist room with brown textured walls, a black bench with a teal cushion, two stacked beige stone blocks, and a rectangular stone surface.

Modern and sculptural, the Rest Side Table, by Estudio Persona, subverts the usual forms we would think to see in stone: a statue, a tabletop, a column. This ancient material is bisected by what might be the same curve we see in the CVX Console – a broad, generous stroke, halving the otherwise rectangular block.

A minimalist room with brown walls features a gray bench and a black abstract painting with geometric shapes.

Another piece by Artefatto, the Mesoa Bench is a low, elegant bench, framed by two solid legs, cradling the leather seat that sits immediately on top to form a stately, robust piece. Below, the Swell Chair, by Atelier Sohn, sits up, utilizing the same high gloss finish as other pieces in the collection. Seeming to want to squeeze out of itself, the chair explores the aesthetic and functional potential of an imperfect state.

A reflective modern chair sits in front of a rust colored wall. There is a stone table in the foreground, cut off by the composition of the image.

In 2020, Movimento Gallery was established in London. Since then, they have added bases in Milan, expanding their reach. They curate pieces that bridge the intersection of art and design, all unique items from across the globe. These objects have cultural histories, can evoke emotion, or provoke thought, stirring emotions deep within us. Pure expressions of creativity, this work forms the bedrock for our simplest mode of connection, art. With contributors from around the world, Movimento Gallery celebrates global perspectives, presenting contemporary designs through a diverse lens.

A modern room showcases a brown geometric chair, a stone table, and a black sofa. Marks of Existence Movimento is reflected in the black abstract artwork adorning the brown wall.

Artefatto’s motto, “Art. Design. Chaos.” is in full show here, blending the detail-driven design mentality with the creativity and freedom of art. A multidisciplinary design studio, they span multiple industries, from showrooms and set design, to exhibitions and furniture. Expert curators of the built environment, they balance complex briefs with simple solutions for an overall stunning outcome.

Modern table with a polished stone top and a black stacked pedestal base, set against a brown textured wall and red floor.

Federica Biasi’s Zenit Table sits low, yet yields a high impact. Highly polished wood sits resting above a broadly curving base, incredibly thin for a stone piece of this size. Underneath, the strong stone steadies the rest, sturdy and supportive. Like the name suggests, this table was inspired by the height of the sun in the sky, at it’s zenith. Simplicity is the best designer, seen here in the Febe Stool, by Federica Elmo, as well.

A minimalist setup with a geometric wall art, featuring six circular cutouts, hangs above a console table with a marble top and stacked black block legs, against a brown textured wall.

The Stack Console, from Pietro Franceschini, is a stately addition to any interior, with strong, inky legs adorned with rectangular protrusions and a classic Travertino Ascolano top.

A stone tabletop rests on a stack of dark, glossy rectangular supports against a textured brown background.

In 2020, Movimento Gallery was established in London. Since then, they have added bases in Milan, expanding their reach. They curate pieces that bridge the intersection of art and design, all unique items from across the globe. These objects have cultural histories, can evoke emotion, or provoke thought, stirring emotions deep within us. Pure expressions of creativity, this work forms the bedrock for our simplest mode of connection, art. With contributors from around the world, Movimento Gallery celebrates global perspectives, presenting contemporary designs through a diverse lens.

A minimalist room with brown walls and a beige coffee table embodies the Marks of Existence Movimento, featuring a black cushioned bench and an artistic console table with layered black supports.

For more on Marks of Existence, please click here. For more on Artefatto Design Studio, please visit here

Photography by Marcello Maranzan.

Growing up in NYC has given Aria a unique perspective into art + design, constantly striving for new projects to get immersed in. An avid baker, crocheter, and pasta maker, handwork and personal touch is central to what she loves about the built environment. Outside of the city, she enjoys hiking, biking, and learning about space.