Monica Taverniti Turns Functional Objets Into Architectural Sculptures

Monica Taverniti inspires dialogue about personal interpretation within exploratory form in her latest exhibition entitled Next of Kin, presented by Novalis Art Design in Hong Kong. These forms occupy the function of cabinets, dressers, and tables, but imbue these ordinary notions with fantastical industrial details, an ode to Memphis design. Regular sets of shelves give way to slicing angular vertices, creating storage spaces and other architectural details in their wake. Architect, designer, painter, and maker, Taverniti continues to revive design traditions of years past, igniting conversations surrounding modernity, narrative, and scale.

Scaling down, any ledge of these expansive pieces invites the viewer to imagine an entire world within a plane. Architectural lines delineate a sometimes expansive scale, viewing the pieces as though we were one inch tall. Seamless and satisfying, the blocky language of the color sequence almost resembles separate buildings on a city street. Objects discerningly chosen to hide in drawers and to show on shelves would occupy their own territories, plateaus of bright hues an attractive backdrop for most precious items.

The array of sculptural works transform everyday materials into vessels of imagination. Her creations encourage viewers to delve into the hidden stories they might contain. By blending water-based enamels, acrylics, markers, and a transparent finishing coat, Taverniti infuses each piece with a distinct sense of character and depth. This exhibition dissolves the line between function and fantasy, offering a glimpse into a world where objects do more than serve a purpose – they speak, provoke, and inspire.

Taverniti’s expertise in color shines here, designing distinct yet cohesive color palettes for each piece in the collection. A mint green is paired with a lime green, lemony accents peeking through around the legs. A deep yellow is paired with a similar pastel hue, reminding us more of a self-sustaining building than furniture alone. This, paired with delineating marks reminiscent of metal plates, adds to the industrial influence without. Lighthearted color schemes give way to jaunty angles, offering different views of the piece from all sides. Bold and monumental, this collection feels weighty, towering structures proudly standing tall, safeguarding your items.

The exhibition is supported by the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong, and the Italian Cultural Institute in Hong Kong as well. Next of Kin marks Taverniti’s first solo exhibition in Asia.

Monica Taverniti is an architect, designer, artist, and maker, based in Turin, Italy. Inspired by the Pop influences of the ’50s through the ’80s, she blends modern materials with the colors and proportions of the Memphis movement, reviving a style while offering her own take in turn. She shares on her work, “The distance between the project of a building and the project of a design object is shortened by the propension to think of anything as an inhabited place. Furniture is, in fact, a space inhabited by life, used daily. The difference lies in the scale of realization.”

To learn more about Next of Kin and Monica Taverniti’s work, please visit monicataveriti.com.

Photography by Giulia Nomis.