FAINA’s award-winning Curio presented a particularly timely presentation, entitled Stepping on Ukrainian soil. At the center of the Curio, Ukrainian-born designer Victoria Yakusha presented a handwoven, two-and-a-half-meter tapestry titled Zemlia (Ukrainian for “earth”), presented alongside a series of primitive benches and stools in the form of fictitious animals, each sculpted by hand. The tapestry’s rich, layered texture is reminiscent of Ukrainian, black-colored soil.

"For us Ukrainians, the connection to our earth is umbilical, vital. Our land has never been just a territory for us. It’s a source of power. Earth is alive. She sees, she feels, she carries the memory of our ancestors. I don’t feel like I design my pieces, my designs choose me to give a material form to certain messages. I wanted the viewer to feel the power of earth when seeing the tapestry. Emotions, reflections, tears have been here throughout the week”. Victoria Yakusha, Founder of FAINA.

PODIUM/
This year saw the debut edition of Podium in Basel, a selling exhibition of over 30 exceptional, museum-quality works, curated by Maria Cristina Didero in response to her chosen theme for this year: The Golden Age.

“It was engaging and exciting to curate Basel's debut Podium exhibition around the theme The Golden Age, with objects that were strongly able to speak for themselves. I was delighted to experience the conversations that the unique stories behind each of these rare and wonderful pieces sparked amongst the visitors”. Maria Cristina Didero, Curatorial Director of Design Miami/

The rare Water Lillies Bowl (1955) by Pierre Paulin presented by Pascal Cuisinier is one of the most iconic pieces from the designer's works in this period with only two or three ever produced. Marie Piselli’s TIPI: Let Light Be lamp was illuminated in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, in a sign of solidarity with Ukrainians both at home and abroad. The nature inspired Millefiori lamps by Joy de Rohan Chabot, presented by Galerie Chastel-Maréchal, recalled imaginary gardens and a dreamy childhood. HazeVessel by we+ explore the impact of human activities on the earth, utilizing discarded wire collected in Tokyo to turn into delicate vessels. Galleria Rossella Colombari presented a pair of stackable single beds (1953-1954) by Carlo Mollino, an eclectic and central figure in the international design scene, reflecting the designer’s obsession with aesthetics and efficiency.

BEST IN SHOW AWARDS/
Best Gallery: Morentz
Exhibiting for the first time at Design Miami/ Basel, Netherlands-based Morentz has won the Best Gallery Presentation award. According to advisor Simon Andrews, “Their skillfully curated, atmospherically staged installation of rare and diverse works celebrates the very best of international mid-century design, intuitively uniting Nordic, Italian, American, and Brazilian expressions.”

Best Curio: FAINA Gallery
The award for Best Curio Presentation goes to Ukrainian-born, Belgian-based designer Victoria Yakusha of FAINA Gallery. Her Stepping on Ukrainian Soil installation features a two-and-a-half-meter handwoven tapestry that symbolizes the deep, unbreakable connection between Ukrainians and the soil of their homeland.

Best Historic Object: Office Set of Pierre Poutout, 1970, presented by Galerie Meubles et Lumières

The fair’s Best Historic Object award winner is a suite of office furniture designed by Pierre Poutout, presented by Galerie Meubles et Lumières in Paris. According to architect Lee Mindel, “This low slung office suite—three chairs, a console, and a Calder-shaped desk—is an historic reminder of 1970s-era, avant-garde French architecture. The desk is anchored to the floor only by a flat steel plate. The comfortable chairs have a gyroscope base that adjusts to any position. Each piece is an engineering feat that appears to defy gravity. And the ensemble is a gesamtkunstwerk that celebrates the integration of design and architecture.

Best Contemporary Object: Planet by Astrid Krogh, 2021, presented by Galerie Maria Wettergren

Architect Lee Mindel explains: “From a land where light can be either overabundant or totally scarce, Krogh has created an abstract expression of the science and art of the universe. Made of gold leaf, silver, platinum, aluminum, and fiber optics—with its sweeping flux of moving light and various vibrating surfaces—Krogh’s Planet is a pulsating feast for the eyes.”

DESIGN TALKS/
The Design Miami/ Basel 2022 talks programme explored the intersectional nature of design. The programme was curated by Maria Cristina Didero, who also invited three guest curators to present their own talks in person at the fair: Anne-Laure Pingreoun, Founder of Alter-Projects; Adam Štěch, Editor and Curator; and curator Libby Sellers.

Embracing a hybrid format, all in-person talks were live-streamed, and a curated selection of exclusively digital talks were also released on the Design Miami website, offering an online window into the diverse discussions, questions and insights explored at this year’s Basel fair.

The program of recorded talks is now online at www.designmiami.com.