Rick Owens' clean, brutalist lines are contrasted against the "childlike touch" of contemporary Italian design in the Rick Owens ? Dialog with Emerging Italian Designers exhibition curated by Galerie Philia as part of Milan design week.
On view at Spazio CB32 near the Fondazione Prada, the show highlights work from eight young designers based in Italy alongside pieces by fashion designer Owens.
The exhibition features work by Rick Owens (above) alongside emerging designers such as Agustina Bottoni and Pietro Franceschini (top)
The emerging designers' pieces were created in response to well-known pieces by Owens including an antlered table from his Evolution series and the geometric Alchemy chair.
"When you talk about contemporary designers between 20 and 35 years old, 80 per cent of them were inspired by Rick Owens," Galerie Philia co-founder Ygaël Attali told Dezeen. "In design, some pieces are nice looking but they don't have an aura. Rick Owens pieces aren't even trying to be nice looking. They're not trying to be comfortable or appealing. They're just there and if you like them, you like them."
Owens' Square Alchemy chair is paired with a Morghen chandelier and table by dAM Atelier
Among the participating designers are Agustina Bottoni, Como-based duo Draga & Aurel and architect Pietro Franceschini, who also co-curated Galerie Philia's recent exhibition in New York.
All were contributors were chosen by Attali for their irreverent sty...