LUIS GORDILLO
LUIS GORDILLO EXHIBITION
1th February – 15th March 2024
GARRIDO GALLERY
C. de Serrano Anguita, 7, Centro, 28004
Madrid, Spain
Featuring:
Juan & Paloma Garrido - Luis Gordillo
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From February 1, 2024 we receive the Luis Gordillo's works, his large collection of silkscreen prints on paper. Special and commemorative exhibition to the work of a great artist, available until March 15th to enjoy his best works.
ARGENTUM PROYECT
ARGENTUM PROYECT
2023
Ghada Ahmer
Nacho Carbonell
Ross Lovegrove
Peter Marino
Campana Brothers
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Puiforcat, Historical Silversmith of a Contemporary Lifestyle:
For nearly two centuries, the house of Puiforcat has dressed the finest tables and served as the silversmith of choice for connoisseurs and collectors of exceptional objects. Sterling silver cutlery, serving pieces, trays, centrepieces and candelabras are crafted in its workshops with the unique savoir-faire its artisans have cultivated since the nineteenth century.
In addition to its masterful crafting of metal and other precious materials, the house is also known for its consummate sense of simplicity and elegance, which it owes in large part to Jean Puiforcat. Master silversmith and fourth-generation member of the Puiforcat family, Jean headed the company in the 1920s. Guided by the Art Deco movement and the Union des Artistes Modernes, he forged a distinctive sculptural and geometric signature associating basic shapes (cube, sphere and cone) with rigorous lines. A true pillar of his identity, this style, which combines harmony and the quest for beauty in utility, is now still one of the foundations of the house of Puiforcat. The same goes for its tradition of collaborating with top designers from every era.
Renewing its tradition of fine decorative silverwork, Puiforcat reproduced a visionary Jean Puiforcat lamp and clock in 2012, emblematic pieces that stand out for their design and exceptionally precious materials. The house is pursuing this initiative in 2013 with the introduction of Magnificat Puiforcat. This contemporary line features truly monumental decorative objects signed by two designers and silversmiths: Juan and Paloma Garrido. With the Magnificat Puiforcat collection, the house reaffirms its longstanding devotion to the world of decoration.
Magnificat Puiforcat, New Collection of Sculptural Pieces:
Borrowed from Latin, the lyrical name of this new collection represents Puiforcat's everlasting quest for excellence. With Magnificat Puiforcat, the master silversmith has not only drawn from the etymological idea of "magnificence" by offering unprecedented, monumental decorative objects but has also magnified its expertise.
Composed of seven exceptional pieces, this new, resolutely contemporary line stands out through its size and its uses, through its style and the virtuosity with which each piece is crafted. An extraordinary declarative collection, Magnificat Puiforcat draws its inspiration from the sculptural, geometric and timeless spirit of Jean Puiforcat. As the strong edges and polished surfaces of Patrick Jouin's Zermatt knife come alive in the light, each piece marries taught lines with smooth curves in a skilful architecture of flexible geometry, echoing the Puiforcat universe. "The combination of verticality and elongated surfaces lends a feminine elegance to the pieces, which nevertheless remain very masculine in their volume and lines," explained Juan and Paloma Garrido, responsible for these creations. "Horizontal and vertical lines, as well as the intertwining curves, continuously play with the eye to create a sense of movement.”
7 Objects, 7 Artists, 7 Techniques:
Each of the seven pieces in this unprecedented collection requires four to ten weeks of handcrafting by expert artisans. Seven different artists, each of whom masters various traditional silversmithing techniques (cold forging, hammering, planing, assembly, welding, deburring, polishing, chiselling), intervene in turn to achieve a perfect finished product. The seven objects are crafted in nickel-plated brass, which was chosen for its warm tones, visual quality and adaptability for use, as it does not rust. This material is also conducive to mirror-polished finishes of exceptional quality. Each piece is available upon request in a limited series of 20 numbered copies.
Juan & Paloma Garrido, Magnificat Puiforcat Designer-Silversmiths:
When Spanish silversmith Damian Garrido passed away in 2002, he left behind a great legacy. His children, Juan and Paloma, became heirs to a long tradition of working "La Plata" using a typically Spanish method of hammering linked to the conquest of the New World and its silver mines. Trained from childhood in the silversmith's techniques at the family workshop, the brother and his younger sister were nourished with their father's passion for the discipline and its leading innovators, including Jean Puiforcat. "As we learned, we sought inspiration in the work of artists of times past that we discovered in books and museums. Among them, Jean Puiforcat was always a model and an extremely important reference in our creative process," explained Juan and Paloma. With their technical mastery, their aesthetic culture and their intimate link to the history of the trade, the two heirs have for the past ten years established a unique contemporary register, whose main features resonate with the house of Puiforcat.
The Garridos' formal language easily communes with that of Puiforcat: the constant pursuit of balance and harmony among arcs, curves and structured lines; a sense of composition; and bold geometric combinations. The house thus naturally called upon their talent to imagine the declarative Magnificat Puiforcat collection. "To create this line, we drew from the work of Jean Puiforcat and then looked to incorporate a new architectural dimension," said Juan and Paloma. “It took a year to develop this collection, as we sought to offer shapes that are entirely new to the world of silversmithing.”
The House of Puiforcat:
Founded in Paris in 1820 by Jean-Baptiste Fuchs and his two cousins Émile and Joseph-Marie Puiforcat, the family company owes much of its fame to Jean Puiforcat. Member of the fourth generation of the family, Jean would go on to write the most beautiful pages of the company's history almost a century after its creation and would propel Puiforcat to the forefront of modern silversmithing. Under the influence of his father Louis-Victor Puiforcat, the workshop had by the end of the nineteenth century achieved a quality of the highest order, and had begun reproducing 17th-century masterpieces. Jean was named master silversmith in 1920. Immersed in the wave of artistic renewal that came to characterise the period between the two world wars, he was one of the founders of the Union des Artistes Modernes in 1929 and came to befriend René Herbst, Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Charreau. Fascinated by sculpture, Jean Puiforcat invented a revolutionary formal language that aligned form with function.
Architectural shapes, clean lines, meaningful simplicity, lack of embellishment and the blend of sterling silver and other precious materials such as exotic wood, hard stones and shagreen – Jean's spare, Art Deco-inspired style is the foundation of fine contemporary silverwork. Often reproduced, his work continues to impart a distinct spirit to the house's contemporary collections. Since coming under the wing of the Hermès Group, Puiforcat has used its truly exceptional savoir-faire to both reproduce the finest pieces of its heritage and to imagine tomorrow's classics alongside great contemporary designers. Beyond its unrivalled expertise in the art of tableware, the house now aspires to once again honour its century-old experience in all types of art de vivre, whether linked to the table, the decorative arts or the “bel-usage".
About Juan & Paloma Garrido:
In Madrid, Juan and Paloma Garrido – 47 and 44 years old respectively – have taken it upon themselves to run the family silver workshop founded by their father Damian in 1944. During the post-war period, the talent of this internationally acclaimed silversmith quickly earned him the status of the official silversmith to the Spanish Crown and the country's most fortuned families. Fresh out of school, Juan and Paloma joined their father as adolescents to learn his beloved craft. In his workshop, they played with pieces of metal, becoming familiar with both the techniques and transformation of the material.
After several years of research and experimentation, Juan and Paloma developed a unique formal flair that met with resounding success and earned them their father's praise. With geometry, an architectural style and the endless confrontation of curves and straight lines, the siblings' complex and uninhibited pieces captivated the art market and New York gallery owner Barry Friedman, who helped them get started. Juan and Paloma's first exhibition in his gallery took place in 2002, the year their father died. The event marked the beginnings of remarkable international achievement and passing of the torch from one generation to the next. Since then, the second generation of Garrido silversmiths has signed nearly 140 exceptional contemporary pieces of their own. The duo also collaborates with large houses and takes specific orders for the biggest names in decorative design. Their creations are found in major museums around the world, from Madrid to London, from Tokyo to New York.
ASPREY
ASPREY:
GARRIDO
June 2007
Asprey
New Bond Street
London, United Kingdom
www.asprey.com
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BRITISH LUXURY GOODS SINCE 1781:
Asprey combines a contemporary sensibility with the traditional British values of style, refinement and quality. For over 200 years, it has offered the very best in craftsmanship and design to an exclusive international clientele. Every piece of silver, jewellery, watch, leather, china or crystal, and every fragrance and accessory that bears the Asprey name is a timeless masterpiece of its kind.
DAMIAN GARRIDO - HERITAGE:
Acclaimed Spanish silversmith Damián Garrido started his apprenticeship at the tender age of 12. By the time he was 25, he was an acknowledged master of his craft, with painstakingly acquired smithing, engraving, polishing and gilding skills allied to a burning passion for silver. He set up his workshop in 1940, and over the next 50 years, he took the silversmith's art to new heights, combining boundless creativity with technical perfection. Today, his son and daughter Juan and Paloma continue that tradition, with bold and strikingly modern geometric designs that still embody the timeless values which inspired their father.
INNOVATION AND MODERNITY:
The new Garrido collections cross the line that separates craftsmanship from artistry. Interlocking asymmetric forms are used to create highly sculptural pieces. From every perspective, there is something new to be discovered, with the reflections off the highly polished surfaces creating an intricate interplay of light and shade. The pieces are as technically accomplished as they are aesthetically beautiful. The hollow construction is in itself challenging to realise, but the difficulties are compounded when these complex multi-formed shapes have to be joined together. There is likewise no margin for error when it comes to achieving the polished finish, as even the smallest surface defect would fatally undermine the overall effect. For all these reasons, the connoisseur will appreciate that the skill which goes into creating these pieces pushes the absolute limits of what is possible in silversmithing. However, there is no doubt that the relentless perfectionism of the Garrido workshop has paid off. The results can be seen in timeless works of art that will give pleasure to all who see them, for generations to come.
THE FEMALE VOICE IN MODERN DESIGN
THE FEMALE VOICE IN MODERN DESIGN
20th April 2022
CARPENTERS WORKSHOP GALLERY
693 Fifth Avenue, 10022
New York, USA
Curated by Daniella Ohad
Featuring:
TORSION TABLE LAMP, 1996 by Paloma Garrido
LIMITED EDITION OF 8
24-karat yellow gold, anthracite nickel-plated metal. 16 1/2 X 8 1/4 IN (42 X 21 CM)
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Part I of a two-part exhibition, The Female Voice in Modern & Contemporary Design, 1950-2023, celebrates women’s contributions to the world of collectible design. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, women were the minority in the pro- fession of design, struggling to express their creative voice within a male-dominated territory, even when making revolutionary contributions, and when standing at the fo- refront of experimentation and innovation. Engaged mainly in skills traditionally consi- dered ‘feminine’ – pottery, silversmithing, textiles – only a small percentage of furniture and lighting which came to challenge boundaries and to open the path of modern de- sign was done by professional women designers. Furthermore, much of their work was attributed to male designers. Yet, despite the significant gender imbalance and struggle for freedom, the triumph of the significant minority, which produced provoca- tive objects that resonate with design history, has shined throughout that era.
This exhibition comes to celebrate the superb achievements, skills, and contributions of European female designers throughout five formative decades that came to shape modern design; from the postwar years, through the beginning of the women’s liberation movement, Postmodernism, Minimalism, and to the closing years of the century. The exhibition focuses on individual professional talents, their conside- rable and victorious accomplishments, and their lasting impact on the story of modern design. The pieces presented in this exhibition represent the very small percentage
of furniture and lightings by women, who created daring and cutting-edge objects, achieving excellence and quality in a gender-discrimination time. These objects by
a small group of passionate women tell the story of society, reform, and identity.
The aim of this exhibition is twofold: first to outline the contribution of fe- male designers to avant-garde design, and second, to examine their place in the lar- ger context of design and history. The exhibition will gather works by 50 creators offurniture and lighting, and it will take over the gallery’s two floors, opening on April 20th, 2022. It will present an unprecedented mix of works, divided into five decades, each presents the best design created by European professional designers or those trained in Europe’s centers of the Modern Movement. Those objects will be analyzed in broad contexts of the period, including the state of the design world, the taste of the time, exploration of themes such as feminism, oppression, technological innova- tions, the ‘contemporary,’ and the increasing place of women in the world of design.
DESIGN FICTION
DESIGN FICTION
30th March – 29th April 2023
MAISON RAPIN
7 Ouai de Conti 75006
Paris, France
Featuring:
Juan & Paloma Garrido
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From March 30 to April 29, Maison Rapin invites the two Madrid-based designers for a Solo Show in its gallery at 7 quai Conti. An opportunity to discover the emblematic creations of these new generation goldsmiths. Brother and sister, heirs to a family tradition recognized throughout the world, Juan & Paloma Garrido perpetuate an exceptional knowledge in futuristic fashion.
INTERSECTION
INTERSECTION
2nd March – 2nd June 2021
GARRIDO
Calle Serrano Anguita
Madrid, Spain
Featuring:
Maria Oriza
Jan Hendrix
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Explore our latest exhibition, Intersection, a group show featuring ceramic sculptures and art-walls by the proclaimed ceramists Maria Oriza exhibited along side the exceptional graphic works by Jan Hendrix. The exhibition explores the intersection of the nature inspired motives, which have galvanised both artists in their oeuvre, exploring the theme in different mediums.
Geometries Exhibition
GEOMETRIES
4th February – 18th March 2016
Alfons & Damián
Passatge Marimón
Barcelona, Spain
www.alfonsdamian.com
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Alfons Tost and Damián Sánchez have organized a temporary exhibition of design furniture and contemporary art objects made in silver by the Garrido brothers - Juan & Paloma. This elegant artistic duo of artisan and designer specialized in working with noble metals gives their pieces a sculptural spirit. Geometrías is the first exhibition to take place at the Alfons & Damián gallery, a new space that aims to bring innovative artistic experiences and exclusive collections from the world of design to the city.
Juan and Paloma Garrido are second generation goldsmith artisans and owners of one of the most innovative contemporary goldsmith workshops. The duo draws inspiration from architectural monuments and geometric elements to create their collectible design pieces. Geometrías will exhibit twelve limited edition pieces: seven pieces of furniture and five decorative art objects. The exhibition features numerous decorative art pieces that showcase a wide variety of designs, functionality and finishes, offering pieces in gold or anthracite nickel. The Garrido brothers, along with Alfons Tost and Damián Sanchez, have selected four special pieces that will be shown for the first time to the public at the Alfons & Damián gallery.
The exhibition will highlight the most recent works of the workshop, emphasizing the long history of GARRIDO in the work of silver. Particularly striking is how undemanding the goldsmiths are, able to apply a range of traditional and artisanal techniques to pieces that follow contemporary design trends. Most of the works present a combination of curved and straight lines, a characteristic that affects the surface, interior and edges of each piece.
Juan and Paloma Garrido, along with the skilled members of the workshop, have offered a fresh point of view to the prestigious firm founded by their father -Damián Garrido- in 1940. The family's collectible design pieces make up collections in prestigious galleries around the world and feature in prominent avant-garde interior design projects. GARRIDO has designed and produced collections for internationally renowned luxury firms such as Asprey (London), Christofle (Paris), Herve van der Straeten (Paris), Chahan Minassian (Paris), Alexandre Biaggi (Paris), David Gill (London) and Puiforcat (Paris), as well as collaborating with renowned designers and architects such as Peter Marino (NY).
About Alfons & Damián:
Alfons & Damián is an innovative project dedicated to collectible design and located next to Avinguda Diagonal in Barcelona. It consists of a store dedicated to unique objects, a gallery of design editions and an interior design studio. Alfons & Damián not only offers unique pieces -practically impossible to find anywhere else in Barcelona- but also organizes constant activities in favor of design through its gallery platform -which hosts interesting proposals from artists, designers and special editions- to give the city the opportunity to get closer to exclusive experiences and collections. Alfons & Damián was created for lovers of contemporary and 20th century design, cosmopolitan people with a predilection for refined aesthetics and who are looking for a global solution to their needs.
GALERIE ALEXANDRE BIAGGI
Creations by Juan & Paloma Garrido
27th March - 14th April 2012
Galerie Alexandre Biaggi
Rue de Seine
Paris, France
www.alexandrebiaggi.com
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Juan and Paloma Garrido were born in Madrid in 1965 and 1968. The son and daughter of Damian Garrido (1931-2002), the celebrated silversmith known for his sublime table centrepieces, tea services and candlesticks in silver, they spent their childhood in their father's workshop and shared his passion: the same exacting standards, the same pleasure over the beauty of the finished object. But over time they broke away from the purely functional aspect and the classical shapes, to move in a more creative direction. While maintaining an allegiance to traditional silver working techniques, they now design furniture and objects that can be compared to sculptures. Their work is typified by geometrical - often asymmetric - shapes, right angles, chamfered corners and cubist influence. This is exemplified by the lamps and mirrors in silver designed especially for Alexandre Biaggi, as well as the table centrepiece, the candlesticks and the side table that are on show for this occasion.
Their designs have been regularly exhibited at Asprey’s in London, Barry Friedman’s in New York and in Tokyo, Miami, and Marbella. Some pieces are part of permanent collections at the National Museum of Decorative Arts in Madrid and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Others have been acquired by amateur collectors, such as the Emir of Qatar, the King of Jordan, Pope Benedict XVI, Ralph Lauren and Elton John. Juan and Paloma Garrido have also worked with Maison Christofle, Paris.
Alexandre Biaggi has been following the work of Juan and Paloma Garrido for some years. "I was first introduced to their work at the Pavillon des Arts et du Design in Paris, and was immediately won over by their way of thinking. I liked the way they approached modernity while maintaining a 1930's influence. I am constantly looking out for bridges between the great history of 20th century Decorative Arts and current creative trends. The designers who I work with regularly, such as Patrick Naggar, Patrice Dangel and Simone Crestani, all belong to the same family. The traditional skills they all possess support a creativity that is in phase with our time. For Juan and Paloma Garrido, the fact that they work with silver is an added bonus. I have always preferred noble materials. I am really not keen on plastic! Silver gives their work a reflective quality that I find fascinating: it gives it a mysterious, poetic and highly contemporary edge." Alexandre Biaggi has been exhibiting some of the greatest names in 20th century Decorative Arts since 1996 at his gallery in rue de Seine, Paris: Let’s quote Jean-Michel Frank, André Arbus, Jacques Adnet, Serge Roche, Jean Royère, Gio Ponti. But he has added an increasing number of contemporary designers to his collection. That acts as a link between his work as an antiques dealer-interior designer and his publishing activity, which is no less fascinating. It is also a way of showing that the great Decorative Arts tradition is still present nowadays.
HEAVY METAL
HEAVY METAL
15th September – 29th October 2011
Barry Friedman Gallery
Madison Avenue
New York, USA
www.barryfriedmanltd.com
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Barry Friedman Ltd. is pleased to present Heavy Metal, three concurrent solo exhibitions of new works by contemporary French furniture designer Ingrid Donat, Spanish silversmiths Juan and Paloma Garrido and French metal sculptor Hervé Wahlen. Each artist takes a contemporary approach to traditional media and works outside of anticipated forms and constructions. The works will be on view at the gallery from September 15 through October 29, with an opening reception for the artists, September 15, from 6-8pm.
Contemporary French furniture designer Ingrid Donat was born in Paris in 1957. Having studied sculpture at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Donat’s work clearly reflects her background as a sculptor. While originally deriving inspiration from the elegance of Art Deco and the tonality of primitive tribal art, her new richly textured cast-bronze, aluminum, and concrete furniture embodies clean, bold lines, and geometric forms, while maintaining a fascination with texture and tactility. Drawing from a mix of structural influences, Donat maintains her own distinctive language of surface detail. “I draw inspiration from the everyday,” she states. “This can be naturalistic, mechanistic, industrial, or cultural. I am inspired by specific surfaces: reptile skin, Samurai armor, tattoos, etc.” Donat’s new pieces show an evolution for her as a designer, as she has begun working in the increasingly popular material of polished concrete. Her works have become modernist and linear, retaining beautifully textured surfaces, as well as geometrically complex spatial arrangements. Commode aux 7 engrenages, is a classic example of Donat’s contemporary limited edition furniture. A deeply textured dark bronze exterior contrasts to the smooth and golden drawer interiors. Opening the top drawer engages a vertical line of gears on either side of the Commode recalling the complex inner workings of a vintage timepiece.
Donat’s work has been exhibited at such venues as the Sotheby’s exhibition for contemporary international design at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, England alongside such prestigious names as Marcel Wanders, Studio Job, and Atelier Van Lieshout. Additional exhibitions include Galerie Cazeau-Beraudiere, Paris; Pavillon des Antiquaires et des Beaux Arts, Paris; Parc de Saint Cloud, L’Art du Jardin et de la Sculpture, Paris; and the Carrousel du Louvre, Paris. Top architects and designers seek her work for use in residences and designer showcases around the country. Ingrid Donat currently lives and works outside of Paris.
Also on view are works by Spanish silversmiths, Juan and Paloma Garrido, son and daughter of the late noted Spanish silversmith, Damián Garrido (1931-2002). Trained in their father’s atelier for 15 years, this duo creates sleek and modern industrial designs, made of straight angular corners and curvaceous edges. Like architectural models, many works appear asymmetrical and dimensional, reflecting both their own edges and the surrounding world. The duo maintains an allegiance to traditional silver working techniques, while adopting a contemporary interpretation of silver candelabras, centerpieces, tea services, and nickel-plated furniture. Abstracted forms and highly polished surfaces are hypnotizing in their modern elegance. New works like Table Block, made of nickel-plated silver demonstrate the pair’s modernist tendencies and progression towards larger scale functional forms. Like oversized puzzle pieces, two angular and geometric tables fit perfectly into one another creating a dizzying unification of fragmentation and form.
José Manuel Cruz Valdovinos, Professor of Art History at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid states, “The regretted death of the great silversmith Damián Garrido has not brought the artistic path he initiated during the last years of his production to a close. His son and daughter, Juan and Paloma [...] have given fresh impetus to a prestigious firm that already enjoys international renown” Their work is included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Art and Design,
New York; Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas, Madrid; and The Museo Nacional del Grabado Contemporáneo Español, Marbella. Additionally, their work can be found in such prestigious collections as His Holiness Benedict XVI of Vatican City, the government collection of The State Council of Spain; the Spanish Government’s Presidency Office; and Spanish Embassies such as Harare, Zimbabwe; Caracas, Venezuela; Bucharest, Romania; and Kiev, Ukraine. Private collectors like Ralph Lauren and Sir Elton John are also major collectors of the Garrido’s work.
Lastly, on view will be a collection of works by the French artist Hervé Wahlen. A self-taught sculptor, he is a master of the rare art of dinanderie, or the manual shaping and decorative processes of copper metal sheeting. His technique of shaping, hand-hammering, soldering, welding, cutting, and
patination, results in organically shaped objects that are sensuous, enigmatic,
and skillfully balanced. Smooth exterior surfaces in deep, rich patinas are juxtaposed with highly textured interiors of gold leaf that appear to glow from within. Most of the pieces have a seemingly precarious stance; an illusion created by Wahlen’s careful use of metal ball bearings to provide weighted counterbalance. The viewer is encouraged to manipulate and handle the works, finding their secret compartments, doors, and lids, and creating a sense of discovery and mystery. Pieces like Trans, not only display rich surface patina and delicate positioning, but opens to reveal a glowing inner core and stackable and removable parts. Each interior part has its own unique shape and surface aesthetic. They can be lifted out and removed from the sculpture, allowing the viewer to participate in how the piece is displayed, and interact with the arrangement of their environment.
Wahlen’s work can be found in the Fonds National d’Art Contemporain, Paris and in numerous private collections in France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and the United States, including the collection of Bill Gates. Hervé Wahlen currently lives and works in France.
BARRY FRIEDMAN
JUAN & PALOMA GARRIDO:
New Works in Silver
2nd November – 23rd December 2006
Barry Friedman Gallery
Madison Avenue
New York, USA
www.barryfriedmanltd.com
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Barry Friedman Ltd, is pleased to present the exhibition of new works in silver by Juan and Paloma Garrido. The exhibition - Juan and Paloma Garrido: New Works in Silver will include a limited edition of approximately 35 sterling silver works, including centrepieces, candelabra and Sculptures, and will be on view from November 2nd – December 23rd ,2006.
A new 150-page hardcover book on Garrido works will accompany the exhibition. The book includes essays by two renowned art dealers, and two experts in Spanish Silverware, Jose Manuel Cruz Valdovinos, Professor of arts History at the Universidad Complutense De Madrid and Francisco Javier Montalvo, Doctor in Art History and silverware specialist.
In his critical essay, Professor Valdovinos has written: The new direction undertaken by Juan and Paloma Garrido is characterised by a clearly functional catalogue of works, comprising candlesticks, jugs, vases and sculptures. Whatever the shape of these works, whether they be predominantly vertical or horizontal, they are all firmly consolidated. Other geometric structures are based on smooth surfaces that bestow an elegant formal purity to the designs. Most pieces present a combination of curved and straight lines, a feature that affects both their exterior surface and their interiors or rims.
EQUILIBRIUM
CONTRASTE / EQUILIBRIO
28th November – 20th December 2018
GARRIDO
Calle Serrano Anguita
Madrid, Spain
www.phoenixancientart.com
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Following the extraordinary success of the Classic exhibition at the Phoenix Ancient Art Gallery in Geneva, the exhibits will be traveling to Madrid and will be presented as Contraste / Equilibrio exhibition at GARRIDO gallery. A breath-taking array of ancient ceramic objects of metal, marble, Etruscan, Greek, will merge with a series of Spin paintings from 1997 by Damien Hirst and the most vanguard designs in metal furniture by GARRIDO. We would be delighted to invite you to share with us the delight of enjoying the conversation between the ancient and the contemporary.
Our aim, with this exhibition is to demonstrate that a merging point of the ancient and the contemporary exists, and that objects of precious archeological value can be displayed alongside exquisite art-furniture and cutting edge contemporary art, providing a balanced and aesthetically contrasting marriage.
Juan and Paloma Garrido, the second generation of silversmiths and owners of one of the most innovating studios of contemporary silver craftsmanship, develop their own creations inspired by pieces of archaeology and geometric objects. At the Classic you will see the finest example of the decorate art pieces by GARRIDO workshop, innovative in terms of design, functionality and finishes. GARRIDO’s abundance of different treatments of the surfaces; be it highly textured finish or high gloss, executed in plated gold or silver, evoke the works crafted by the goldsmith masters of the ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, developing metal objects in the fashion of what will be later called the Applied Arts.
Not only is there an interplay of aesthetic juxtaposition seen through out the exhibition, but you will also find links between the old and the new, through the use of related ancient goldsmith techniques, applied to both furniture and the objects. It is surprising how pieces of such contemporary and architectural design can be achieved through the use of these ancestral techniques that GARRIDO preserve in the crafting processes at their workshop, allowing for such exquisite quality of their finishes.
Exhibited along side the ancient and contemporary examples of exquisite metalwork you will find a series of playful Spin paintings produced by Damien Hirst from 1997 and developed with the most deliberate childish technique. Created with the circle templates and a recreation of the rotating machines found at the amusement parks, on which the colours are thrown. The highly colourful graphic aesthetic achieved in these circular compositions intend to enrich the exhibition with nods to urban and pop culture.
ORIGINS
ORIGINS
1st September – 15th November 2018
GARRIDO
Serrano Anguita
Madrid, Spain
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GARRIDO is pleased to announce the opening of the GARRIDO gallery in the home city of Madrid, only a few kilometres away from the workshop where all of GARRIDO creations are crafted. Redesigned by the architect - Adam Bresnick, the space is a double-height luxurious interior flavoured by the modern aesthetic and with an intimate atmosphere of a cabinet of curiosities. The space is elegantly embellished with the latest GARRIDO creations alongside a selection of paintings and works on paper by the renown artists: Damien Hirst, Richard Serra, Joan Miró, Nico Munuera, José Pedro Kroft, Gordillo, Eduardo Chillida and Robert Motherwell.
The gallery will have a permanent display presenting trends in the world of decorative art and design exhibiting GARRIDO star-piece alongside works by the renowned modern and contemporary fine artists. In the future the gallery will be offering a series of temporary exhibitions in collaboration with other international galleries introducing international flavour to the Madrid art scene. The launch of the gallery will marked by the opening of the Classic exhibition, which is currently undergoing enormous success at Phoenix Ancient Art Gallery in Geneva. Classic is a starting point for GARRIDO gallery, which will showcase a selection of masterfully crafted art-furniture alongside precious objects of the ancient world.
Over the past few years GARRIDO has been focusing it’s attention on the toughest creative and technical challenges, participating in the prestigious art and design fairs such as PAD London, PAD Paris, Art Genève, The Salon Art + Design, in addition to being represented at Design Miami. Widening it’s global outreach, GARRIDO has been exhibiting with a number of international galleries such as Barry Friedman Ltd, Galerie Alexandre Biaggi, Phoenix Ancient Art Gallery, Asprey and being represented at home by Alfons y Damian Gallery in Barcelona.
CLASSIC
CLASSIC
3rd May – 31st July 2018
Phoenix Ancient Art
Rue Verdaine
Geneva, Switzerland
www.phoenixancientart.com
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The Phoenix Ancient Art is pleased to announce the launch of the Classic exhibition in collaboration with Juan & Paloma Garrido. A breath-taking array of ancient ceramics, objects of metal and marble will merge with the most vanguard designs in metal furniture, remarkable for their exquisite quality in refined artistry and iconography. We would be delighted to invite you to share with us the delight of enjoying the conversation between the ancient and the contemporary.
Our aim, with this exhibition is to demonstrate that a merging point of the ancient and the contemporary exists, and that objects of precious archeological value can be displayed alongside exquisite art-furniture, providing a balanced and aesthetically contrasting marriage.
Juan and Paloma Garrido, the second generation of silversmiths and owners of one of the most innovating studios of contemporary silver craftsmanship, develop their own creations inspired by pieces of archaeology and geometric objects. At the Classic you will see the finest example of the decorate art pieces by GARRIDO workshop, innovative in terms of design, functionality and finishes. GARRIDO’s abundance of different treatments of the surfaces; be is highly textured finish or high gloss, executed in plated gold or silver, evoke the works crafted by the goldsmith masters of the ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, developing metal objects in the fashion of what will be later called the Applied Arts.
Not only is there an interplay of aesthetic juxtaposition seen through out the exhibition, but you will also find links between the old and the new, through the use of related ancient goldsmith techniques, applied to both furniture and the objects. It is surprising how pieces of such contemporary and architectural design can be achieved through the use of these ancestral techniques that GARRIDO preserve in the crafting processes at their workshop, allowing for such exquisite quality of their finishes.
PUIFORCAT
MAGNIFICAT PUIFORCAT
1st October – 31st December 2013
Puiforcat Hermès Maison
Rue d’Estienne d’Orves
Pantin, France
www.puiforcat.com
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Puiforcat, Historical Silversmith of a Contemporary Lifestyle:
For nearly two centuries, the house of Puiforcat has dressed the finest tables and served as the silversmith of choice for connoisseurs and collectors of exceptional objects. Sterling silver cutlery, serving pieces, trays, centrepieces and candelabras are crafted in its workshops with the unique savoir-faire its artisans have cultivated since the nineteenth century.
In addition to its masterful crafting of metal and other precious materials, the house is also known for its consummate sense of simplicity and elegance, which it owes in large part to Jean Puiforcat. Master silversmith and fourth-generation member of the Puiforcat family, Jean headed the company in the 1920s. Guided by the Art Deco movement and the Union des Artistes Modernes, he forged a distinctive sculptural and geometric signature associating basic shapes (cube, sphere and cone) with rigorous lines. A true pillar of his identity, this style, which combines harmony and the quest for beauty in utility, is now still one of the foundations of the house of Puiforcat. The same goes for its tradition of collaborating with top designers from every era.
Renewing its tradition of fine decorative silverwork, Puiforcat reproduced a visionary Jean Puiforcat lamp and clock in 2012, emblematic pieces that stand out for their design and exceptionally precious materials. The house is pursuing this initiative in 2013 with the introduction of Magnificat Puiforcat. This contemporary line features truly monumental decorative objects signed by two designers and silversmiths: Juan and Paloma Garrido. With the Magnificat Puiforcat collection, the house reaffirms its longstanding devotion to the world of decoration.
Magnificat Puiforcat, New Collection of Sculptural Pieces:
Borrowed from Latin, the lyrical name of this new collection represents Puiforcat's everlasting quest for excellence. With Magnificat Puiforcat, the master silversmith has not only drawn from the etymological idea of "magnificence" by offering unprecedented, monumental decorative objects but has also magnified its expertise.
Composed of seven exceptional pieces, this new, resolutely contemporary line stands out through its size and its uses, through its style and the virtuosity with which each piece is crafted. An extraordinary declarative collection, Magnificat Puiforcat draws its inspiration from the sculptural, geometric and timeless spirit of Jean Puiforcat. As the strong edges and polished surfaces of Patrick Jouin's Zermatt knife come alive in the light, each piece marries taught lines with smooth curves in a skilful architecture of flexible geometry, echoing the Puiforcat universe. "The combination of verticality and elongated surfaces lends a feminine elegance to the pieces, which nevertheless remain very masculine in their volume and lines," explained Juan and Paloma Garrido, responsible for these creations. "Horizontal and vertical lines, as well as the intertwining curves, continuously play with the eye to create a sense of movement.”
7 Objects, 7 Artists, 7 Techniques:
Each of the seven pieces in this unprecedented collection requires four to ten weeks of handcrafting by expert artisans. Seven different artists, each of whom masters various traditional silversmithing techniques (cold forging, hammering, planing, assembly, welding, deburring, polishing, chiselling), intervene in turn to achieve a perfect finished product. The seven objects are crafted in nickel-plated brass, which was chosen for its warm tones, visual quality and adaptability for use, as it does not rust. This material is also conducive to mirror-polished finishes of exceptional quality. Each piece is available upon request in a limited series of 20 numbered copies.
Juan & Paloma Garrido, Magnificat Puiforcat Designer-Silversmiths:
When Spanish silversmith Damian Garrido passed away in 2002, he left behind a great legacy. His children, Juan and Paloma, became heirs to a long tradition of working "La Plata" using a typically Spanish method of hammering linked to the conquest of the New World and its silver mines. Trained from childhood in the silversmith's techniques at the family workshop, the brother and his younger sister were nourished with their father's passion for the discipline and its leading innovators, including Jean Puiforcat. "As we learned, we sought inspiration in the work of artists of times past that we discovered in books and museums. Among them, Jean Puiforcat was always a model and an extremely important reference in our creative process," explained Juan and Paloma. With their technical mastery, their aesthetic culture and their intimate link to the history of the trade, the two heirs have for the past ten years established a unique contemporary register, whose main features resonate with the house of Puiforcat.
The Garridos' formal language easily communes with that of Puiforcat: the constant pursuit of balance and harmony among arcs, curves and structured lines; a sense of composition; and bold geometric combinations. The house thus naturally called upon their talent to imagine the declarative Magnificat Puiforcat collection. "To create this line, we drew from the work of Jean Puiforcat and then looked to incorporate a new architectural dimension," said Juan and Paloma. “It took a year to develop this collection, as we sought to offer shapes that are entirely new to the world of silversmithing.”
The House of Puiforcat:
Founded in Paris in 1820 by Jean-Baptiste Fuchs and his two cousins Émile and Joseph-Marie Puiforcat, the family company owes much of its fame to Jean Puiforcat. Member of the fourth generation of the family, Jean would go on to write the most beautiful pages of the company's history almost a century after its creation and would propel Puiforcat to the forefront of modern silversmithing. Under the influence of his father Louis-Victor Puiforcat, the workshop had by the end of the nineteenth century achieved a quality of the highest order, and had begun reproducing 17th-century masterpieces. Jean was named master silversmith in 1920. Immersed in the wave of artistic renewal that came to characterise the period between the two world wars, he was one of the founders of the Union des Artistes Modernes in 1929 and came to befriend René Herbst, Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Charreau. Fascinated by sculpture, Jean Puiforcat invented a revolutionary formal language that aligned form with function.
Architectural shapes, clean lines, meaningful simplicity, lack of embellishment and the blend of sterling silver and other precious materials such as exotic wood, hard stones and shagreen – Jean's spare, Art Deco-inspired style is the foundation of fine contemporary silverwork. Often reproduced, his work continues to impart a distinct spirit to the house's contemporary collections. Since coming under the wing of the Hermès Group, Puiforcat has used its truly exceptional savoir-faire to both reproduce the finest pieces of its heritage and to imagine tomorrow's classics alongside great contemporary designers. Beyond its unrivalled expertise in the art of tableware, the house now aspires to once again honour its century-old experience in all types of art de vivre, whether linked to the table, the decorative arts or the “bel-usage".
About Juan & Paloma Garrido:
In Madrid, Juan and Paloma Garrido – 47 and 44 years old respectively – have taken it upon themselves to run the family silver workshop founded by their father Damian in 1944. During the post-war period, the talent of this internationally acclaimed silversmith quickly earned him the status of the official silversmith to the Spanish Crown and the country's most fortuned families. Fresh out of school, Juan and Paloma joined their father as adolescents to learn his beloved craft. In his workshop, they played with pieces of metal, becoming familiar with both the techniques and transformation of the material.
After several years of research and experimentation, Juan and Paloma developed a unique formal flair that met with resounding success and earned them their father's praise. With geometry, an architectural style and the endless confrontation of curves and straight lines, the siblings' complex and uninhibited pieces captivated the art market and New York gallery owner Barry Friedman, who helped them get started. Juan and Paloma's first exhibition in his gallery took place in 2002, the year their father died. The event marked the beginnings of remarkable international achievement and passing of the torch from one generation to the next. Since then, the second generation of Garrido silversmiths has signed nearly 140 exceptional contemporary pieces of their own. The duo also collaborates with large houses and takes specific orders for the biggest names in decorative design. Their creations are found in major museums around the world, from Madrid to London, from Tokyo to New York.
ASPREY
ASPREY:
DAMIAN GARRIDO - HERITAGE
1st October – 31st October 2008
Asprey
New Bond Street
London, United Kingdom
www.asprey.com
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BRITISH LUXURY GOODS SINCE 1781:
Asprey combines a contemporary sensibility with the traditional British values of style, refinement and quality. For over 200 years, it has offered the very best in craftsmanship and design to an exclusive international clientele. Every piece of silver, jewellery, watch, leather, china or crystal, and every fragrance and accessory that bears the Asprey name is a timeless masterpiece of its kind.
DAMIAN GARRIDO - HERITAGE:
Acclaimed Spanish silversmith Damián Garrido started his apprenticeship at the tender age of 12. By the time he was 25, he was an acknowledged master of his craft, with painstakingly acquired smithing, engraving, polishing and gilding skills allied to a burning passion for silver. He set up his workshop in 1940, and over the next 50 years, he took the silversmith's art to new heights, combining boundless creativity with technical perfection. Today, his son and daughter Juan and Paloma continue that tradition, with bold and strikingly modern geometric designs that still embody the timeless values which inspired their father.
INNOVATION AND MODERNITY:
The new Garrido collections cross the line that separates craftsmanship from artistry. Interlocking asymmetric forms are used to create highly sculptural pieces. From every perspective, there is something new to be discovered, with the reflections off the highly polished surfaces creating an intricate interplay of light and shade. The pieces are as technically accomplished as they are aesthetically beautiful. The hollow construction is in itself challenging to realise, but the difficulties are compounded when these complex multi-formed shapes have to be joined together. There is likewise no margin for error when it comes to achieving the polished finish, as even the smallest surface defect would fatally undermine the overall effect. For all these reasons, the connoisseur will appreciate that the skill which goes into creating these pieces pushes the absolute limits of what is possible in silversmithing. However, there is no doubt that the relentless perfectionism of the Garrido workshop has paid off. The results can be seen in timeless works of art that will give pleasure to all who see them, for generations to come.
ASPREY AND GARRIDO:
After the success of last year's collaboration, Asprey is once again privileged to be working with the firm of Damián Garrido to exhibit an exquisite selection of its latest designs. The Garrido workshop has created six outstanding new pieces exclusively for Asprey. They will carry the prestigious 'Garrido for Asprey' stamp and will be available to purchase in the Asprey store. Seven further Garrido silver creations will also be on display and on sale in the Asprey showroom during the exhibition.
DAMIAN GARRIDO
DAMIAN GARRIDO,
Goldsmith of the 20th Century
9th October – 30sth November 2003
Museum of Decorative Arts
Calle de Montalbán
Madrid, Spain
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National Museum of Decorative Arts of Madrid is presenting a contemporary collection of works by Damian Garrido in the exhibition: "Damian Garrido, Goldsmith Of The 20th Century” accompanied by the exhibition catalogue of the same title. The exhibition is curated by the most prestigious specialists in Spanish silverware and shines the light on the professional career of Damian Garrido - a master craftsman and architect of the Damian Garrido Silver Atelier. The exhibition starts with Damian Garrido’s biography, delving into his education and influences that determined his extensive artistic career. Illustrating the artisan’s life through the development of his signature aesthetics and concluding with Damian’s collaboration with his children Juan & Paloma Garrido, to whom he passed on the torch of knowledge. The last part of the exhibition will explore the joined work produced by the father and children, and the way the second generation contributed to developing new artistic directions and style of the silver atelier. The exhibition offers the visitors to admire new contemporary pieces created in the last few years of Damian’s artistic career. Additionally "Damian Garrido, Goldsmith Of The 20th Century” exhibition offers an insight into the life of Damian’s silver atelier through the display of traditional tools and machines used by the master during his career and which are still used to this day by his children.