What Martino Gamper did between two thousand and Thursday 11th March 2010

Gio Ponti translated by Martino Gamper
23 October 2007
Three performance times: 10.30-12.30 / 15.00-16.30 / 18.00
Nilufar Gallery, Milano

A Bit Lazy table
2007
140 x 73cm
Unique example

Lazy Table
2007
165 x 73 cm
Unique example

Large Dining Table
2008
320 x 90 x 73 cm
Unique example

Trumeau
2007
80 x 45 x 205 cm
Unique example

Two Legged Console
2007
130 x 45 x 150 cm
Unique Example

Table
2007
176 x 72cm
Unique example

Console
2007
85 x 35 x 51 cm
Unique example

Two Stools and a Low Table
2007
Stool 31 x 31 x 60 cm
Table 45 x 45 x 25 cm
Unique example

Mirror
2007
76 x 67 x 5 cm
Unique example

Desk
2007
120 x 70 x 76 cm
Unique example

Chair
2007
65 x 55 X 94 cm
Unique example

Coffee Table
2007
30 x 30 x 37cm
Unique example

Coffee Table
2007
92 x 90 x 31 cm
Unique example

Floor Lamp
83 x 30 x H max 167 cm
Italy, 2007
Unique example

Mirror
2007
80 x 128 x 68 cm
Unique example

Chair
2007
65 x 70 x 89 cm
Unique example

Console
2007
130 x 47 x 81 cm
Unique example

Mirror
2007
76 x 67 x 5 cm
Unique example

“For this occasion, the furnishings designed by Gio Ponti for the Hotel Parco dei Principi of Sorrento will be exhibited together with the unique pieces elaborated by Gamper. The new orientation of the gallery is to commit international and Italian designers to develop limited edition projects conceived exclusively for Nilufar.

In the gallery, Martino Gamper, armed with the tools of his trade, will break, cut, and modify furniture created by Gio Ponti (courtesy of Nilufar). Not an act of destruction in itself, but rather “an action” to: RE-invent, RE-think, RE-possess the object, and REcreate a “new destiny” for it. Nothing could be further from being relegated to a museum exhibition. The object will be offered an alternative way out, and thereby RE-delivered to true life.”

“Deconstruction”, much more than mere standard practice, is a path to knowledge for Martino. Making contact with the structure of the object is both an intimate and physical gesture for him – the emotional dynamics of relating himself to the essence of the object. The object arouses an emotion that causes a personal RE-action in him, which is then elaborated during the performance, as an immediate action on the object, a “creative process in action” that we can define as “Action Design.”

Taken from the press release

“If Gio Only Knew”
12-16 June 2007
Basel, Switzerland

In this performance Martino continues his interest in re-appropriating used furniture, in this case furniture designed by Gio Ponti for the Hotel Parco dei Principi, Sorrento. This is the first time he uses such iconic and classic design pieces. With his transformative powers and the ability to improvise Martino seeks to extend the live of a classic piece of design beyond it’s museum like existence. The outcome is always unknown, the process is spontaneous and freewheeling and the result is a variety of objects, each with its own attitude, some functional some pathetic, and some even beautiful. Even the most abject of the remade pieces will have an euphoria inspired by the escape of destiny.
Gio Ponti furniture courtesy of Nilufar Gallery, Milano.

Taken from the press release

watch the performance on YouTube.