Lalana is an interdisciplinary exhibition that merges art, design, and craft. Currently, on view in Palm Court, the show features textile pieces that combine original artworks by contemporary Argentine artists with traditional crafts to create one-of-a-kind designs. Hinging on the relationship between fine arts and design, Lalana examines how transposing works of art into different materialities can completely alter the way viewers engage with and relate to those pieces. These unique designs make for collectible works that are both decorative and functional.
Showcasing applied arts from Argentina, the exhibition features rugs and furniture inspired in iconic works by Roberto Aizenberg (Entre Ríos, 1928 - Buenos Aires, 1996), Luis Fernando Benedit (Buenos Aires, 1937-2011), Juan Stoppani (Buenos Aires, 1935-2022), and Adriana Bustos (Bahía Blanca, 1965). Employing traditional techniques of textile work and a high level of skilled craftsmanship, most of the pieces on display are made of wool and silk.
Prominently featured in the exhibition is the work of notorious artist Luis Fernando Benedit. His textile pieces “Funky Floating Woman” and “Funky Floating Man,” underscore the influence of neo-figurativism in Benedit's practice. Also on view is Benedit’s “Coloma Chair,” a sculptural piece of furniture developed by Lalana as a prototype based on Benedit's original sketches from 1996. Constructed from painted wood, metal, suede, and aluminum, the chair has pops of bright colors that match its playful and fun shape. These works are seen alongside Roberto Aizenberg’s “Figure,” a curvilinear silhouette in gradient colors that embodies the artist’s surrealist style. These wall pieces gravitate over a circular floor piece by Adriana Bustos, which maps the location of two voyagers in space. Finally, in a corner, a profile of the Roman Emperor Nero by Juan Stoppani completes the cast of characters.
Lalana’s collection includes many more textile pieces based on the original artwork of a vast array of Argentine artists. Aizenberg’s “Green Gradient”, in a deep green to black ombre made of hand-knotted wool and silk, and his “Green on Gray,” a flatweave textile made of hand-woven llama wool, can also be experienced in a showroom behind the exhibition space. Benedit’s “Octagonal Girl,” adapted from his original work from 1964 into an octagonal hand-knotted wool rug, is soft to the touch and uses a colorful palette that suits its very surreal subject matter.
Through a catalogue of unique designs, Lalana unveils original pieces conceived from sketches, prototypes or pre-existing artworks by iconic artists, resurfacing modern designs and putting them in dialogue with a younger generation of creatives interested in contemporary arts and crafts.
A design initiative that celebrates Argentine applied arts, Lalana elevates everyday objects into exclusive works of art. Visit Lalana until September 25 at 140 NE 39th St Suite 106.
