To spain for trophies

From October 2 to 7, the fortieth FIM international furniture exhibition was held in Valencia. The opinion that only gilded classics are made in Spain turned out to be a myth. Everything was here: from the brutality of medieval aesthetics to futuristic installations

Passing the gallery

Reportage: Oksana Kashenko

Magazine: N1 (79) 2004

From October 2 to October 7, the anniversary, fortieth, international furniture exhibition FIM took place in Valencia. There was solemnity in everything. The stands were like decorations for Hollywood films and movie star apartments. It was possible to organize excursions on the history of styles and interior design techniques. The opinion that only gilded classics are made in Spain turned out to be a myth. Everything was here: from the brutality of medieval aesthetics to futuristic installations. So Spain was rediscovered After visiting other European exhibitions, the first impression of this is how small everything is, that is, chamber music! Regardless of the style, even minimalism, miniature boudoirs everywhere, tiny secretaries, cozy bedrooms and compact living rooms. This is especially noticeable on the chairs. They practically hug the seated as if dancing with him. It seems that everything seen earlier was designed for giants. After the shock of such a conclusion, the second, which is surprising, is forms. Harmonious combination of opposites: roundness with angularity. Reinvention of the long-known motifs of the Romanesque style, Louis and Art Deco in their own way. Art Deco collections are incredibly popular. They look like a kind of challenge to society, perplexed by the saving of time and the multifunctionality of things. The design of the chairs and floor lamps is so good and exudes such relaxation and laziness that I want to start a bohemian lifestyle literally from Monday, the only one corresponding to this style. A little later, you realize that Art Deco, Louisiana, and the Romanesque style are not presented here in a pure, “book” form. Everything is either modernized or exaggerated. And the best is both. The result is a thing out of time, fashion and value. It is completely incomprehensible what should cost. The furniture looks like a designer rarity existing in a single copy, or as a trophy of a Crusade. If we add to this manual labor and multiply by the family artisan traditions of the factory with more than three hundred years of history, the sense of value of the thing increases exponentially. What can we say about the impression that tableware made of silver (Valenti) and the armrests of chairs made of elephant tusks (Vidal Grau) produce. Real antiques! We'll have to court even the king, at least some. As at any exhibition, all the preferences of Spanish decorators were evident. Warm and thick chocolate color in any of its shades - for walls. Upholstery and curtains are certainly made of brocade or velvet - the colors of autumn foliage, gray-blue and, of course, red. Fabrics featuring wavy parrots are very relevant. Floor lamps and lamps of simple shapes, decorated with feathers, rhinestones, beads and pendants. About suspenders separately. The most chic is the unfaced frosted crystal pendants, as if covered with a millimeter layer of brown dust. Look fantastic romantic! Speaking of the color of the wood from which the furniture is made. This is again a sweet cherry and ... a tree painted with silver paint. It looks appropriate in any interior. From the palace to the emasculated-sterile. However, perhaps this applies in general to all the furniture shown at the exhibition. Its design is unique and adaptable to the most unexpected conditions.

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