Edit Design Fair Establishes Naples as a Design Hub
Naples is a city in transformation, said London- and Naples-based artist Allegra Hicks as she crossed a busy downtown street. “It’s a city that takes a lot from you, but gives back even more. It’s very generous,” she said reflecting on the mesmerizing quantity of unkept, but majestic architectural jewels that are too many to count.
Hicks presented for the second time at Edit Napoli with “Lucielle,” a homage to Santa Lucia, a formation of sculpted orbs and shells in ray formation. “It represents her eyes,” Hicks pointed out. Testament to the ardent effort of Edit Napoli founders and curators Emilia Petruccelli (curator and former Bain & Co consultant) and Domitilla Dardi (design historian and curator) to enhance Napoli’s image as a design hub, Hicks said the three-day fair, which was centered around the city’s State Archive and closed Sunday, attracted an unprecedented number of visitors and international names alike. “The first day, I welcomed 600 visitors to Lucielle… the second 490,” Hicks said of the showcase that took place at Santa Luciella ai Librai, a 14th century shrine in the heart of the city.
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Edit Napoli united 100 international exhibitors from Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Lebanon, Israel, Greece, France, United Arab Emirates, U.K., Denmark, Czechia, Switzerland, Canada, U.S., Austria, Germany, Malta, Hungary and Georgia. Every year the fair aims to support under-30 talent and this year was no exception with a space dedicated to “Young Dutch Titans” launched for the third year in a row in collaboration with the Embassy and Consulate General of the Netherlands, and also the participation of Spanish companies and creatives. The prize jury appointed to bring fresh talent to the fore was made up of international names like designer Tom Dixon and architect Hannes Peer, who were among a committee tapped to evaluate and award the Best Unreleased Project Award based on intelligent design values, deep respect for cultural heritage, ethics and sustainability, as well as well-balanced price.
Prize-winning projects included the Tracce pouf by Design Studio Ruga Perissinotto, the result of the firm’s research to rediscover the historical wool of north-eastern Italy, and the Lockwerk Shelf by Turin-based, under-30 designer Giorgio Bena.
Elsewhere, exhibits and instillations paid homage to the nature surrounding the city and sites like Mount Vesuvius.
“The city is a volcano of energy, in the sense that there is a cultural contamination that is very strong with a unique spirit,” said designer Francesco Meda.
Established architects and designers Meda and David Lopez Quincoces were recently appointed creative directors of lava stone specialists Ranieri. At the fair, the duo celebrated the natural state of lava with the Odissea collection and exhibit “A Matter of Perspectives,” composed of complementary 2D and 3D elements that are versatile and can be combined and/or arranged in a variety of patterns.
The site-specific installation was showcased at the monumental Santa Maria La Nova whose construction began in the 13th century. The showcase was part of Edit Napoli’s Cult program, a dialogue between the fair and the historical and artistic treasures of Naples.
Looking ahead, its founders aim to establish the fair among other calendar events with a specific focus that is neither centered around mass industrial design nor a hub for collectible art.
“Edit is in the middle and is becoming an opportunity for emerging artists to make themselves known and for buyers to purchase sought-after pieces, but at a sustainable price,” Dardi said.
Looking back, both founders expressed satisfaction in the strong presence of international press and buyers, as well as international visitors. “It was nice to see so many people return to Naples to discover it through different points of view, in its most significant places but with initiatives that respect and safeguard its authenticity and identity,” Dardi and Petruccelli said in a statement.
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