Gaetano Pesce’s Six Tables on Water

Architect, interior, exhibition and furniture designer Gaetano Pesce was in town last night putting the final touches to his spectacular Six Tables on Water exhibition.

Lagoon: Six Tables on Water
Lagoon: Six Tables on Water

The 73-year-old Italian has had an illustrious career in which he has forged a very nuanced and provocative interpretation of design art.

Lagoon: Six Tables on Water
Lagoon: Six Tables on Water

This collection, hosted by David Gill Galleries, shows different visions of water as imagined from a 10,000m height.

Lake: Six Tables on Water
Lake: Six Tables on Water

As well expressing an incredible sense of depth, colour and movement Pesce’s tables, which he has designed to be both practical and beautiful, tell the story of the mistreatment of water and the environmental fall-out this causes.

Lake: Six Tables on Water
Lake: Six Tables on Water

Only the Ocean and puddle-scapes have been designed in a way which suggests total purity. The ocean, lagoon, river, lake and pond, all bear scars of contamination.

‘They are elegant, beautiful and useful but provoke people to think water is important,’ says Pesce.

Lake: Six Tables on Water
Lake: Six Tables on Water

As throughout the rest of his career Pesce will only work using what he calls ‘the contemporary materials of our time.’

In this case we are talking about rigid polyurethane foam, PVC, and epoxy resin. He often works with silicon, resin and foam exploring their elasticity and application.

Puddle: Six Tables on Water
Puddle: Six Tables on Water

Asked if there is a definable quality to his lifetime portfolio, in terms of aesthetic or way of thinking, Pesce says, ‘the best way to communicate something is to make people recognise an image.’

River: Six Tables on Water
River: Six Tables on Water

For Pesce ‘design is a form of art’ and art, ‘used to be a very practical product,’ he says. ‘Before people could take photographs they would go and see a painter, not for a work of art, but for a representation of themselves.’

His point is this, blurring the boundaries of art and design – and indeed the fascets of design, is a very healthy thing.

Ocean: Six Tables on Water
Ocean: Six Tables on Water

‘The Italians never had specialisms. Michalangelo, he worked in sculpture, architecture, poetry…’

Ocean: Six Tables on Water
Ocean: Six Tables on Water

Still in Italy today it is easier for designers to move between mediums he says, and that ‘we should teach this to all young people’ learning about design. 

Pond: Six Tables on Water
Pond: Six Tables on Water

Six tables on water is now open at David Gill Galleries, 2-4 King Street, St James’s SW1, until the end of the year.

Start the discussionStart the discussion
  • Post a comment

Latest articles