On Friday, November 8, the Círculo Ecuestre hosted the third dialogue within the By Invitation 2024 program, its international modern and contemporary art fair.
The Collectible design talk featured the participation of the renowned architect Benedetta Tagliabue and the director of Il·lacions Gallery, Xavi Franquesa. Teresa Ybarra, director of Bonhams Spain, acted as moderator and the event was presented by Enrique Lacalle, director of the Círculo Ecuestre and curator of the exhibition.
The dialogue began by showing the public some of the flagship and “ultra-functional” pieces of the Miralles Tagliabue Studio, which Benedetta runs with her ex-husband, also an architect, Enric Miralles, and which have been on display with Il·lacions at By Invitation. During the talk, the impact, challenges and opportunities represented by collectible design were explored, an expanding market that combines art and furniture to create unique and customizable pieces.
During the discussion, Benedetta Tagliabue highlighted the uniqueness offered by collectible design, where each piece can be adapted to the tastes of the person who acquires it. “For me it was a surprise, going from seeing it from a very personal perspective, to realizing that this can be extended to others, although not in an industrial way”, said the architect. Referring to one of her most special pieces, she added: “The ‘Unstable Table’ that we have just seen is so complex that the few we have produced in the world are all different. There is not one like the other, because it is too difficult to make things the same, and the artisans end up doing it a little differently each time”.
For his part, Xavi Franquesa stressed the importance of strengthening signature design in Barcelona. “Barcelona had never done anything in this field. It is surprising that Barcelona, one of the cities with the most designers in the world, still does not have a consolidated presence in collectible design”, explained Franquesa. At Il·lacions Gallery, they promote local design with a policy focused on supporting creators from the region: “Standard galleries are like Real Madrid, they sign the best from everywhere. We are more like Barça, from the youth academy, pushing everyone, creating this movement. We are in the Champions League, we are the worst team, but we are there”, he used as a metaphor.
Franquesa also highlighted the obstacles faced by local designers due to the lack of resources, compared to other European cities: “In Brussels, they have had an injection of capital. They have obtained Swiss funds and have multiplied their projection by 50. We are there behind, trying”.
Both speakers agreed that collectible design offers a unique experience in the relationship between the user and the piece, combining the utility of furniture with the emotional impact of art. “It is something that is increasingly being sought. Having some everyday objects, but that are really special, almost like a painting or a piece of art”, explained Tagliabue. “Collectible design allows each piece to be a personal reflection of the client, in which specific details can be chosen that make each piece of furniture unique”, explained the architect.
According to Franquesa, this experience is intensified in the case of collectible furniture, which has a direct physical connection with its owners: “You can use collectible furniture, you can live it. It is inspiring because it relates to your body. It is a type of art that interacts with you emotionally”.
Conclusion: a growing field
The dialogue closed with a reflection on the future of collectible design and its role in Barcelona. “I think it is something that is happening. It comes from an architectural movement where there has been a lot of experimentation”, concluded Tagliabue, while Franquesa expressed his optimism: “We are fighting to put Barcelona on the map of collectible design”. “It is up to us to explain it to the world”, he said.