At the Arper showroom in London, presentation of the Bardi’s Bowl Chair project

A hemispherical seat resting on a metal ring structure supported by four legs. Simple and brilliant in its originality, the Bowl Chair was created in 1951 thanks to the vivid imagination of Lina Bo Bardi. It remained a prototype in black leather made by the artist to furnish her own Casa de Vidro in Saõ Paulo, Brazil, but now it is a limited, numbered edition of 500 pieces. Credit for this operation goes to Arper, which presented in London, at the Clerkenwell showroom, not just the black leather version but also seven color variations in fabric, each of which can be combined with pairs of monochromatic cushions, in different hues or decorated with graphics based on original designs by Lina Bo Bardi. The completion of the Bowl Chair project goes beyond purely commercial considerations, as explained by Claudio Feltrin (CEO of Arper), because this is also a benefit initiative, since proceeds from sales will help to finance the activities of the Istituto Lina Bo Bardi of Saõ Paulo and the traveling exhibition “Lina Bo Bardi: Together”. After its first move two years ago from the British Council Gallery to reach Vienna, Basel and Paris during the course of 2013, the show will be seen in 2014 in Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin and Milan (in September). This is probably the best way – and one that would certainly be appreciated by Lina Bo Bardi – to spread her message around the world. For info: www.arper.com