Published by Robina Benson SoHo Design House
February 2025
 

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Space Gallery in Collaboration with Robina Benson Design House

Space Gallery is delighted to present our first collaboration with the renowned Robina Benson Design House. Robina Benson’s savoir-faire for creating modern, luxury interiors with high end design and lifestyle brands, will complement the exceptional artists and exhibitions curated by Space Gallery.

For the debut collection, Japanese design visionary Nendo brings his ground breaking collaboration for Paola Lenti. Hana-arashi, as disclosed by Nendo, describes the mesmerizing spectacle when cherry blossom petals detach and dance through the air – a transient beauty more captivating than the blossoms themselves, lasting mere moments, as they dance in the wind.

The collection comprises a remarkable series of Objets d’art born from Paola Lenti and Nendo’s shared commitment to sustainable design. Production remnants of Paola Lenti’s signature Maris fabric are delicately rolled and seamlessly welded, transforming into three dimensional pieces inspired by Samurai armour. This meticulous process breathes new life into repurposed materials, resulting in suspension and floro lamps, armchairs, pours, baskets and more – each carrying a story of innovation and artistry sharing Nendo and Paola Lenti’s profound love and respect for nature.

We look forward to welcoming you as we step into this new era with our Soho gallery celebrating our wonderful roster of artists alongside world-class design.

Hana-arashi by Nendo

Hana-arashi is the family of furnishings and complements born from the collaboration of Paola Lenti with Nendo.

A Symphony of Signs, Colours, and Emotions

Hana-arashi, meaning “petals of sakura flowers dancing in the wind,” is a remarkable series of Objets d’arts born from Paola Lenti and Nendo’s shared commitment to sustainable design. Production remnants of Paola Lenti signature Maris fabric are delicately rolled and seamlessly welded, transforming into three-dimensional pieces inspired by samurai armor. This meticulous, handcrafted process breathes new life into repurposed materials, resulting in suspension and floor lamps, armchairs, poufs, and baskets, each carrying a story of innovation and artistry.

Installation of Hana-arashi by Nendo and designer furniture by Nendo and Paola Lenti, represented by Robina Benson SoHo Design House at Space Gallery SoHo.

Designer furniture by Nendo and Paola Lenti

Japanese design visionary Oki Sato, known as Nendo brings his groundbreaking collaboration for Paola Lenti to the highly anticipated debut of Robina Benson SoHo Design House, at Space Gallery SoHo.

Hana-arashi by Nendo

Date: February 21 – May 30 2025
Location: Space Gallery SOHO, 428 Broome St, NY 10013

- THE STORY

Nendo and Paola Lenti: A Symphony of Signs, Colours, and Emotions

The attention to nature as a source of inspiration for a more conscious and happier life

Installation of Hana-arashi by Nendo

The rustle of leaves in a city park, stirred by the wind; the dust particles dancing in the sunlight filtering through dense urban buildings; the gentle patter of raindrops on a military green raincoat; the fiery red sun setting against the backdrop of a bustling street in Tokyo as seen from a van.

These fleeting moments, captured through the eyes of Hirayama in Wim Wenders’ acclaimed “Perfect Days”, evoke the essence of perfection. They remind us of the joy found in simply experiencing nature’s spontaneous offerings without any prompting.

Sakura Blossoms in Tokyo

Oki Sato, known as Nendo, finds inspiration in these subtle cues from nature – what he refers to as “hints” or “whispers”. These whispers were explored in his solo exhibition, “nendo: whispers of nature,” held at Paola Lenti’s new space in Milan during Milano Design Week 2024.

From their shared geographic coordinates in Tokyo, Japan, Nendo and Wenders, with a distinctly Western perspective, advocate for the importance of living in harmony with oneself and the natural world. They encourage us to appreciate life’s simple pleasures and to cultivate a deep respect for the environment.

“Exploring the connection between nature and humanity is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture,” explains Nendo. “That’s why I felt compelled to delve into this theme and chose Paola Lenti Milano as the perfect venue to showcase my exhibition. Nendo and Paola Lenti share a profound love and respect for nature – it’s what unites us.”

From Komorebi to Mottainai: Embracing Nature’s Radiance

In the richness of the Japanese language, there exists a treasure trove of words that encapsulate intricate concepts and the beauty of natural phenomena with remarkable brevity.

Komorebi, as unveiled by Wim Wenders at the conclusion of his film, captures the ethereal shimmer cast by sunlight filtering through swaying leaves – a fleeting glow frozen in a singular, precise moment.

Hana-arashi, as disclosed by Nendo, describes the mesmerizing spectacle when cherry blossom petals detach and dance through the air – a transient beauty more captivating than the blossoms themselves, lasting mere moments.

Oki Sato, known as Nendo

Hana-arashi, as disclosed by Nendo, describes the mesmerizing spectacle when cherry blossom petals detach and dance through the air

Lastly, Mottainai, elucidated by Paola Lenti, embodies the ethos of waste not – a call to utilize existing resources rather than squander them. This concept has been embraced by the company, transforming into a project aimed at imbuing surplus materials with renewed function and aesthetic value.

The imagery of petals dancing in the air directly evokes Paola Lenti’s philosophy, which, through the Mottainai project, gathers and repurposes what remains, what literally falls from production processes, thus avoiding any form of waste.

“We were intrigued” explains Paola Lenti, “to explore collaborations with designers boasting diverse aesthetics, distinct from those of the Campana Brothers, with whom we initiated the Mottainai project’s first chapter. Thus, we engaged with Nendo studio. Oki Sato artfully breathed new life into Maris offcuts, harnessing their inherent structure and texture to inform the collection’s form. The resulting Hana-arashi collection exudes a restrained yet vibrant charm, evocative of quintessential Japanese design.”

The Unpredictable Elegance of Petals

Nendo’s concept for creating objects that experiment with various forms and combinations crystallized only after visiting Paola Lenti’s headquarters, witnessing the production processes, and grasping the company’s research efforts and unique savoir-faire. The Maris cutoffs, with their quality and array of colours, meticulously recovered and thoughtfully combined according to a cohesive chromatic scheme, give rise to petals of newfound and unpredictable beauty.

Details of the creation of the designer furniture by Nendo and Paola Lenti with Maris cutoffs.

ph. © Maurizio Natta

The Harmony between Oki and Paola

“The initial impression I had” recounts Nendo, “is that Paola embodies a certain Japanese sensibility. Quiet, exceptionally courteous, with a deep respect for nature. She truly sees and understands nature in a manner that resonates with me, reflecting an authenticity reminiscent of my own culture. I was pleasantly surprised to encounter the term Mottainai within an Italian company. It immediately felt familiar, akin to home. Through this project, I believe Paola and I achieved a harmonious balance between spirituality, materiality, and sustainability, as we, in a way, speak the same language. It was akin to composing a haiku.”

Designer furniture by Nendo and Paola Lenti

For more information on 

the artworks of this Curation 

contact:  soho@spacestbarth.com 

or visit  spacegallerystbarth.com