The many young people aged under 35 who are exclusively starring in the new edition of SaloneSatellite all come from Russia and the former Soviet Republic. An integral part of the Salone del Mobile.Milano Moscow since its first edition, in 2005, this outstanding stage for emerging designers is once again presenting a rich showcase of experimental innovation and wide-ranging creativity, which primarily draws on the equally rich, deeply-rooted cultural heritage of the talented participants’ homeland. Processing techniques, materials and traditions shape and inspire highly functional furniture
Alexandra Gromchenko
«I am a young product designer who is completely passionate about my work: in the last two years, I have dedicated myself to designing a 21st-century rocking chair. Think of how many hours a day we spend sitting down: lack of movement creates problems for our muscles, stress and pain. What if, while we sit, we can benefit our body? I have therefore designed two solutions that can help people relax and strengthen their muscles. This consideration is the origin of the Chiller Chair».
Andrey Budko
«The product that I am presenting is a rug, made of felt using an embroidery machine. The three versions of the model highlight different parts of the decoration through different colours (magenta, yellow and blue). The material and techniques come from the Russian tradition, creating a tribute to the childhood memories of people born between the ‘70s and ‘80s. Rugs were in fact the most common interior element in Soviet homes and most children’s memories involve a rug as an imaginary play area, where stories and dreams were created between the designs and decorations. I believe that in the near future design should concentrate on resolving contradictions between new technologies and past traditions».
Ekaterina Vagurina
«Simplicity and functionality are essential when I work on a project. I try to follow Dieter Ram’s ‘ten principles of good design’: good design is innovative, it makes a product useful, it is aesthetic, honest… This is the case in the project that I am exhibiting at Salone Satellite, Cheese Wheels Light: it consists of a lamp that evokes the round shape of Dutch cheese, featuring a soft-touch cover and LED light. I took inspiration from an old still life painting from the permanent collection in Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum. I thought it would be fun to design a lamp inside this culinary item that lights up. At the same time, it can be considered a response to the sanctions imposed on Russia, which have prohibited some of our favourite foods».
Emil Galeev
«Flora is a lamp that reflects my vision of harmony between nature and technology. Warm wood and cold steel are combined to form a single geometry. Their connection seems fragile, but this is not the case: the materials flow into each other. A cut sheet of plywood shows the growth rings of trees on the body of the lamp, while a soft light transmits comfort to the surrounding environment. In design, I believe it is necessary to create synergy between life, natural elements, technology and modern materials. My approach to design therefore entails moderate minimalism and geometric dependence».
Ivan Basov
«For my work on display at Salone Satellite, I wanted to find a form of natural origin that was both an autonomous element and one that worked well in a composition. I achieved my goal with the Flower coffee tables. For me, design is an attempt, an experiment to find the perfect combination between form, ergonomics and materials. When it comes to design, I think that the focus should primarily be on creating emotions, feelings and sensations. I do not think my approach will change in the near future».
Mayna Studio
«We are exhibiting three metal floor lamps from the Towers collection at the trade show. With these pieces, we intend to share the idea of transferring an architectural object into an interior, creating an interplay of scales and meanings. All the lamps are equipped with a construction kit that allows you to create your own tower by yourself at home. Our design goal is ‘simplicity + exaltation’; it is important for us to express this concept through objects that provide further meaning. Furthermore, in the early stages of the project, we try to balance aesthetics, technology and comfort».
Odin Geniy
«We design our products in a way that minimizes the use of materials while emphasizing the beauty of the material. Our priority is to protect the environment! We believe that the fundamental elements of our work are artistry and responsibility: we can thus create sculptures that perform the function of a piece of furniture. We therefore decided to bring TreeCrown to SaloneSatellite, a solid wood shelving unit with an ingenious design that emanates an aura of naturalness. We love the sculptural and architectural character of our works!».
Taras Zheltyshev
«At SaloneSatellite, I am only presenting the Limphochair soft chair, a very captivating artistic interior object. The biggest challenge was coming up with the design of a product with a pleasing, striking appearance. It is inspired by lymphocytes in the human immune system. I didn’t want to create a chair with all sorts of mechanisms or one that was excessively comfortable; instead, I decided to change approach: the goal for me was not simply creating a piece of furniture, but a rebellious image. Image is art. After all, art plays a large functional and practical role in people’s lives».
