PHILIA is excited to collaborate with Holly Hunt for their LA – Flagship Showroom on MATERIA PERPETUA exhibition. More than a display of creative skills and in line with Philia’s distinct philosophical approach, MATERIA PERPETUA serves as a platform for profound reflection and thematic exploration, resulting in unique works that seamlessly blend artistic expression with a palpable, emotional response. The inaugural collection delves into the concept of eternity and its paradoxical origins. The title itself encapsulates this exploration, with ‘Materia’ alluding to both maternity and materiality, and ‘Perpetua’ signifying eternity. This paradox is intricately woven into each work, fusing spontaneous creation with a rich historical lineage.
The chosen material, onyx, adds another layer of significance with its historical reverence. In ancient Egypt, it was a prized stone for sculpture; in the Roman Empire, it was used for crafting intaglios; and a mention of onyx can also be traced to the bible where it is said to be found on Aaron’s breastplate. The participating artists, commissioned to create within the thematic framework of MATERIA PERPETUA examine the tensions between tradition and contemporaneity, using the semi-precious stone to explore questions such as whether one necessarily affiliates with the material’s long history or liberates oneself through contemporary lines and usage.
Exhibiting designers include Andres Monnier (Mexico) who embraced the challenges of working with Onyx, which he describes as ‘the glass of rock,’ to produce a selection of pieces, including a mirror with a sculpted base. Pietro Franceschini (Italy) presents a delicately polished chair made from the material. Similarly, Henry Wilson (Australia) contributes to the exhibition with unique pieces – Wilson displays a small curvature side table, while Paul Matter (India), has crafted a tall, organic curved sculptural piece. Finally, the design duo Studiopepe (Italy), showcases a crafted console and Pierre de Valck (Belgium) presents his Axe Table, a scaled-up version of an original Palaeolithic hand axe, one of the longest-used tools in human history dating back around 1.6milion years ago. He describes the work as ‘reconnecting us with our common heritage as a species.’Finally Giampiero Tagliaferri (Italy) is debuting a three-panel onyx screen.