ELEMENTAL revealed | Discovering raw elegance of mineral and earth in the new exhibition

ART LIVING

ELEMENTAL REVEALED: RAW ELEGANCE OF MINERAL AND EARTH IN THE NEW EXHIBITION

We are all integral parts of a cohesive whole in which people, nature and matter are interconnected. Art expands our feeling of entanglement with our surroundings, transforming our living space into a private sanctuary that resonates with personal meaning. This is the foundation of the new KALPA-curated exhibition ELEMENTAL at the Molteni Pavilion, which brings together the work of Eleanor Herbosch (Belgium), Akiko Hirai (Japan/UK) and Tom Palmer (UK).

Including a harmonious selection of vessels in alabaster, ceramic sculptures and textural paintings, ELEMENTAL delves into the essence of mineral and earth as the source and guardian of life, the root of our nutrition and first home. This primordial substance has been intricately woven into the fabric of human civilization, becoming a testament to the enduring bond between humanity and the very ground upon which we stand.

Incorporating art into a living space is key to creating an environment with a distinct identity, much like a perfectly tailored garment.

Inspired by the soaring lines of Gothic vaults in British medieval architecture, Tom Palmer’s iconic Vault Vessels, crafted from Iberian translucent alabaster, capture an interplay of light and shade through their dynamic concave and convex surfaces. They embody the delicate yet lasting nature of alabaster, a millennary mineral that has been used across Europe since ancient times.

The finished forms and dimensions of these sculptures are in many ways dictated by the shape of the original quarried stone. During the carving process, in an ongoing dialogue with the material, the artist unveils the organic qualities and beauty of the stone. The inner force of these vessels, imbued with ancestral and contemporary energies, reflects the verticality of the architectural lines of the Pavillion.

In conversation with Tom Palmer’s alabaster vessels, a series of paintings by multidisciplinary artist Eleanor Herbosch. Working with ceramics and painting, she weaves these mediums together through the unifying element of earth, infusing her creations with a profound connection to nature, the art of Japanese calligraphy, and ritualistic practices. Herbosch's pictorial gesture comes from organic movements, resembling a fracture, a permanent action and alternation of moments of pause and motion.

Linking to the core of ELEMENTAL, three canvases from her recent Raw Umber series are installed in the reception and restaurant areas of the Pavilion. The warmth and the energy arising from these exhibited works provide the interiors with a renewed tranquillity and a sensation of meditative silence.

The elements that shape our world are woven together like the threads of a vast tapestry. The wind carries the whisper of the earth, the rivers flow with the memory of stone, and the fire burns with the spirit of the sun.

The art journey continues with two ceramic sculptures from Akiko Hirai’s signature series Moon Jars, through which she revisits the traditional 18th-century Korean moon jars. These ancient vessels are admired for their calm and simple design, and they inspire Hirai's modern creations, which are enriched by unexpected colors and the accidental divots and bumps that occur during the firing process.

Organic and evocative, these emotional Moon Jars fully embrace the principles of wabi-sabi in which beauty is found in imperfection and contrast, leading the viewer into a dreamlike world created by the artist's spontaneous act of creation. Each Moon Jar is unique and surprising, with different textures and palettes of colour, offering itself as a canvas for the imagination.

Together, the elements foster a sense of balance and tranquility, inviting guests to experience an art installation that resonates with the essence of the natural world.