Incollect Magazine - Issue 3 Preview

Incollect Magazine 11 2022 Previous page: Self-taught artist and master in the art of forging metals, Gianluca Pacchioni creates collectible design and sculpture in his Milanese atelier. He is represented by Negropontes Galerie in Paris. Left: ‘Metaphysical Cabinet,’ 2018. White onyx with veins created in liquid brass, inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, in which cracked pottery is repaired with a mixture of lacquer and powdered gold, honoring the age and history of the object and embracing the imperfect. Cast bronze stand with mirror polished brass shelf and patinated brass interior. The personal favorite of Negropontes Galerie director Sophie Negropontes, artist Gianluca Pacchioni has, with this piece, explored the tenets of metaphysical philosophy. The cube is a cabinet, in essence, but it is also a vehicle for experiencing beauty. It opens to unveil a gleaming patinated brass interior, a moment of delight. Is it an object or an experience? Pacchioni has employed what has become a signature detail, a reflective shelf below the body of the piece, so that it may be revealed in full dimensionality, its true and complete existence. As always when viewing art, one’s individual perception heightens self-understanding. But aside from the metaphysical musings that inspired this piece, it is an exquisite work of artistry and craftsmanship. Below: ‘Vulnerable’ sculptures, 2021. In cast bronze, concrete and stainless steel, one of a kind. A lotus bud, symbol of purity and beauty, emerges from a distressed concrete base. Metal is a foundation for everything you do, why is that? Practicality or aesthetics? As a self taught artist I started with metal, a very indulgent material. It gives you the possibility to learn and correct quickly. It also allows you infinite access to forms and shapes without putting you in a frustrated state of mind. Perfect for explorations. This is only the practical side. Then there is the fire, its noise, its danger and its poetic effects. Nothing better than working on a rainy day in Paris at the forge. Recently you have worked with liquid metals and patinas. Can you describe this process? I discovered liquid metals around 10 years ago. It gives you the flexibility to make projects without thinking of the issue of weight. It is a complex process where you use metals with a very thin thickness thanks to the aid of resins. Patinas and surface finishes will bring personality to the final works. They are your signature: for this reason nobody else, except myself, is involved in that part of the creative process.