Craftica by Formafantasma at Libby Sellers

1 - 28 February '13

London

Gallery Libby Sellers presents the London-debut of Formafantasma's Craftica series. Initially conceived in collaboration with luxury goods house Fendi for Design Miami/Basel 2012, Craftica is a visual and tactile investigation into the diversity and origins of leather through a collection of handmade stools, lights, vessels and tools.

As Simone Farresin and Andrea Trimarchi, the Italian-born duo behind Formafantasma, have said, "the design is driven by the symbolic connotations of leather, a material that, more than any other, represents the complex relationship between humans and nature. Leather has the ability to evoke almost ancestral memories of when nature was hunted to produce food, tools and protection for the body. Searching underneath and above the sea, from the vegetal to the animal world, the installation offers a holistic view on leather as a material."

Perch Stool and Perch Fish Hot Water Bottle. Photography by Luisa Zanzani

Fendi Bell Lights. 2012. Photography by Lusia Zanzani

Jar. Photography by Luisa Zanzani

Studs stool: Fendi Discarded leather, brass studs

Salmon stool: Fendi discarded leather, vegetal tanned salmon skin, wood, sea sponge

Salmon stool: Fendi discarded leather, vegetal tanned salmon skin, wood, sea sponge (Detail)

Wolffish-pig stool: Vegetal tanned pig leather, vegetal tanned wolffish skin, wood, brass label

Perch stool: Vegetal tanned perch skin, lime wood, brass label

Perch fish hot water bag: Vegetal tanned perch skin, glass, brass

Water containers: Cow bladders, glass, brass, cork

Leather table: Discarded Fendi leather, brass structure, marble weights

Leather table: Discarded Fendi leather, brass structure, marble weights