OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION JUNE 16 2023

Biophilia

by Design Miami

At Design Miami/ Basel 2023, the prevailing trend is organic, crafted, intimate, and inviting

SCULPTURAL SIDE TABLE BY JOSÉ ZANINE CALDAS  (C. 1980S) AND MARIPOSA BRANCA TAPESTRY BY GENARO DE CARVALHO (C. 1965), PRESENTED BY GOKELAERE & ROBINSON AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL 2023

In its 17th edition, Design Miami/ Basel has become a reliable indicator of what’s hot in the collectible design market. If we were to encapsulate in one word the prevailing trend evident across the show floor this year, it would have to be “biophilia.”

While each of our 28 gallery exhibitors have curated bespoke presentations around their respective areas of expertise, so many of the objects and vignettes on view at Design Miami/ Basel 2023, as an ensemble, sing a harmonious chorus celebrating the timeless beauty of nature.

Think undulating, organic forms expressed in richly warm woods, ceramics, and woven fibers, enlivened by the come-hither textures that arise from traditional, handcrafted processes.

CYPRESS BY A STREAM, AN 18TH-CENTURY FOLDING SCREEN, PRESENTED BY THOMSEN GALLERY AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL 2023

The biophilic vibe, no doubt, has been amplified by the strong showing of works, both historical and contemporary, created by artists, designers, and makers from regions well known for drawing inspiration from the natural world, namely Scandinavia, Brazil, and Japan.

New York gallerist Erik Thomsen (https://www.designmiami.com/gallery/thomsen-gallery?first=84), a long-time specialist in Japanese art and design, emphasizes the respect for nature that pervades the work he represents, including baskets woven from rapidly regenerating bamboo and screens crafted from locally produced paper and crushed minerals.

“From earliest times,” he says, “Japan has set the global standard in careful use of resources. This care stems partly from the traditional reverence for nature rooted in the animism of Shintoism and the Buddhist quest for unity with the universe. It has also been spurred by practical needs. As inhabitants of a mountainous country with limited cultivable land, Japanese artists and craftspeople have always strived to the make best use of renewables that assure their long-time livelihoods.”

YUKI HAYAMA/ PORCELAIN VESSELS, PRESENTED BY PIERRE MARIE GIRAUD AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL 2023

For Design Miami/ Basel 2023, Brussels-based gallerist Pierre Marie Giraud , specialized in contemporary decorative arts, has broadened his offering to include the work of three masters of Japanese porcelain: Imaemon XIV, Kakiemon XV, and Yuki Hayama.

“Hailing from the renowned Arita region, which has been producing porcelain since the early 17th century,” Giraud tells us, “these artists have garnered immense acclaim and recognition in the realm of ceramic art.” He adds, “Their influence transcends Japan's borders, resonating notably in Europe, where they have served as a significant source of inspiration for European porcelain manufacturers.”

FLOOR LAMP BY PAUL LÁSZLÓ, 1952 | GLAZED CERAMIC PLATE BY BIRGER KAIPIAINEN, C. 1970S

Other standout organic beauties at the show this year were created by mid-century luminaries like Hans Wegner (Denmark), Birger Kaipiainen (Finland), José Zanine Caldas (Brazil), and Paul László (USA), as well as contemporary rising stars like Gjertrud Hals (Norway) Kostia (France), and Kuwahata & Wintherto (Denmark/Japan), to name a few.

Scroll on for a photographic tour of some of our favorite biophilic moments at Design Miami/ Basel 2023...

Galerie Eric Philippe (Paris)

WALNUT TABLE BY DÉNIES GYÖRGY (C. 1920) AND ANÉMONES DES BOIS TAPESTRY BY SIGVARD BERNADOTTE (C. 1940), PRESENTED BY GALERIE ERIC PHILIPPE AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL 2023

Galerie Jacques Lacoste (Paris)

ONDULATIONS CORNER SOFA BY JEAN ROYÈRE (1961) AND MAHOGANY SCULPTURE BY ALEXANDRE NOLL (C. 1950), PRESENTED BY GALERIE JACQUES LACOSTE AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL, 2023

Galerie Maria Wettergren (Paris)

VEDBJU LINEN THREAD & BEARD LICHEN WALL HANGING BY GJERTRUD HALS (2006), PRESENTED BY GALERIE MARIA WETTERGREN AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL 2023

Galerie Mitterrand (Paris)

FRANÇOIS-XAVIER LALANNE/ ÂNE PLANTÉ, 1990-2002, PRESENTED BY GALERIE MITTERRAND AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL, 2023

Galerie Scene Ouverte (Paris)

KOSTIA/ SHROOM FORÊT DE PIERRE WALL LIGHTS, 2022, PRESENTED BY GALERIE SCENE OUVERTE AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL 2023

Gokelaere & Robinson (Knokke / Paris)

OAK & BRASS TABLE (1960) AND ROUND CHAIRS (1949) BY HANS WEGNER AND UNTITLED TAPESTRY BY GENARO DE CARVALHO (C. 1965), PRESENTED BY GOKELAERE & ROBINSON AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL 2023

Lebreton (Monaco)

BILBOQUETS (1972), MADOURA LAMPE AZTÈQUE (C. 1965), AND TARASQUE (C. 1960) BY SUZANNE RAMIÉ, PRESENTED BY LEBRETON AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL 2023

Morentz Gallery (Waalwijk)

POSTWAR ITALIAN DESIGN PRESENTED BY MORENTZ GALLERY AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL 2023

Pierre Marie Giraud (Brussels)

WORKS BY DAISUKE IGUCHI, RITSUE MISHIMA, TOMONARI HASHIMOTO, AND YUKI HAYAMA, AMONG OTHERS, PRESENTED BY PIERRE MARIE GIRAUD AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL, 2023

Thomas Fritsch-ARTRIUM (Paris)

ROBERT DEBLANDER/ MONUMENTAL SCULPTURE,1968-69, LARGE VASE,1960-70, AND VASE SCULPTURE, 1968-69/ PRESENTED BY THOMAS FRITSCH AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL 2023.

Thomsen Gallery (New York)

BAMBOO BASKETS MADE BY THE GREATEST JAPANESE BAMBOO ARTISTS OF THE MODERN THROUGH CONTEMPORARY PERIODS, PRESENTED BY THOMSEN GALLERY AT DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL, 2023

The 17th edition of Design Miami/ Basel is open to the public through June 18, 2023. Tickets are available for purchase online here.

Photography credits/ top to bottom/ James Harris/ Sculptural Side Table by José Zanine Caldas  (c. 1980s) and Mariposa Branca Tapestry by Genaro De Carvalho (c. 1965)/ Thomsen Gallery/ Cypress by a Stream, an 18th-century folding screen/ Pierre Marie Giraud/ Porcelain vessels by Yuki Hayama Galerie Eric Philippe/ Floor Lamp by Paul László, 1952/ Angela Weber Möbel/ Glazed Ceramic Plate by Birger Kaipiainen, c. 1970s/ James Harris/ Walnut Table by Dénies György (c. 1920) and Anémones des Bois Tapestry by Sigvard Bernadotte (c. 1940)/ Ondulations Corner Sofa by Jean Royère (1961) and Mahogany Sculpture by Alexandre Noll (c. 1950)/ Vedbju Linen Thread & Beard Lichen Wall Hanging by Gjertrud Hals, 2006/ Âne Planté by François-Xavier Lalanne, 1990-2002/ SHROOM Forêt de Pierre Wall Lights by Kostia, 2022/ Oak & Brass Table (1960) and Round Chairs (1949) by Hans Wegner and Untitled Tapestry by Genaro De Carvalho (c. 1965)/ Bilboquets (1972), Madoura Lampe Aztèque (c. 1965), and Tarasque (c. 1960) by Suzanne Ramié/ Postwar Italian design/ Works by Daisuke Iguchi, Ritsue Mishima, Tomonari Hashimoto, and Yuki Hayama, among others/ Monumental Sculpture (1968-69), Large Vase (1960-70), and Vase Sculpture (1968-69) by Robert Deblander/ Bamboo baskets made by the greatest Japanese bamboo artists of the modern through contemporary periods