Omaggio a Lucio Fontana Mirror by Dino Gavina, 1990s

About the Item

Dino Gavina "Omaggio a Lucio Fontana" mirror. From a sketch by Lucio Fontana, 1964. Polished mirrored steel, equidistant mechanical piercings. Dino Gavina (1922 – 2007) was an Italian entrepreneur, designer and publisher. He is one of the most important entrepreneurial figures in the Italian furniture and design sector. Founder of the companies Gavina Spa, Flos and Simon at a time when design was just being born, his history as an industrialist will deeply influence Italian design, revolutionizing the field of furtniture and lighting. Gavina was the first to work with young architects like the Castiglioni brothers, Tobia Scarpa, Bellini, and Vico Magistretti. He was also responsible for the revival of Marcel Breuer’s Bauhaus movement. He was also one of the first to understand the great importance of the store front, enlisting Carlo Scarpa to design the first Gavina store on the via Altabella in the heart of Bologna, Italy. Later, in various other cities, he organized events and exhibitions in collaboration with artists such as Meret Oppenheim, Man Ray, Sebastian Matta, René Magritte, Jackson Pollock, Marcel Duchamp and Lucio Fontana. It was with Fontana in particular that Gavina felt a deep connection, and this would be one of the most important professional relationships of his career. Their first encounter in 1954 marks the beginning of a great friendship that would last a lifetime. Over the course of more than a decade, Gavina would direct Fontana to the greatest architects in Milan for the design of their products. In 1964, following the “Lamiere” exhibition (Metal Sheets) at the Gavina shop in Milan, Dino Gavina gave Lucio Fontana the IDEA to create a large metal plated object through which a line of mechanically perforated holes would run. The finish was to be made in different variations with red, yellow, black and white lacquers. Accepting the project, Fontana designed the first prototype which was initially made in wood. Unfortunately, Fontana passed away shortly thereafter, never to complete the work himself. Following his death, Gavina would ask every artist to pass through his spaces how to go about creating a proper tribute to Fontana. In 1995, he took the task upon himself, creating the mirror ‘‘Homage to Fontana’’.

Creator:

Dino Gavina (Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 66.93 in (170 cm)Width: 25.2 in (64 cm)Depth: 0.99 in (2.5 cm)

Style:

Minimalist (In the Style Of)

Materials and Techniques:

Fabric,Metal,Polished

Place of Origin:

Italy

Period:

1990-1999