Loewe Lamps: what it is the exhibition by Loewe

At Palazzo Citterio, Loewe brings craftsmanship on display

The flexibility of bamboo, birch twigs and horsehair; the translucencies of paper and lacquer finishes; the dynamic contrasts between glass, leather and ceramic create shapes that draw inspiration from natural as well as man-made objects, from lighters to transforming microorganisms.

Among those who have designed pendant lamps, Genta Ishizuka's work resembles an amorphous organic cell: the artist, who works with urushi lacquer, won the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize in 2019. Her lamp is finished with layers of high-gloss lacquer that are removed to reveal glimmers of gold finish, enhancing the delicate glow of light emanating from within.

Then there is also the famous ceramist Dame Magdalene Odundo who for the occasion created a leather suspension lamp: portions of curled leather protrude from a central element; an experimental deviation from the classic vases with which the artist established herself.

Finally, Enrico David's table lamp tells a lot about his interest in humanity in terms of metamorphosis and transformation; the table lamp by Hafu Matsumoto is made of intertwined strands of flattened bamboo, demonstrating his dexterity with the tension of the plant, acquired over decades of training, also under the guidance of the master bamboo weaver Iizuka Shokansai.

Alvaro Barrington's glass-shuttered floor lamp, complete with Loewe's signature gold donut chain cord, extends from his exploration to the iconic New York doorways and streetscapes of his youth Similarly, Zizipho Poswa's work draws on his personal memories of his life in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and the daily Xhosa rituals he witnessed as a young man. His floor lamp is composed of ceramic, glass and bronze and takes the form of a vase supporting a bowl of illuminated spheres.