“Geometry Made Easy” and “Con-Tradition,” two of the latest projects by the Italian studio MICROmacro, explore the possibilities of geometric design. Both collections include decorative panels and lighting which play with shape and negative space.
“Geometry Made Easy” is a series of suspended lamps and freestanding wire screens. The lamps feature five elementary shapes: the circle, the rectangular, the square, the star, and the triangle. As the bulbs are exposed, the lighting casts strong shadows off of the metal forms. The screens are boxy and intricate, framing home decor before a backdrop of sharp black lines.
Riffing on the possibilities of black metal frames, “Con-Tradition” revises that simple structure with a blend of contemporary and traditional aesthetics. The collection’s floor lamps, folding screens, and small tables draw inspiration from vintage Chinese furniture. The pieces echo the form of cloth screens, lanterns, and calligraphy and tea tables but are made of industrial-era materials, namely concrete and steel. Solid but sculpted to create empty space, the fixtures and furnishings of “Con-Tradition” are see-through, inviting the owner to admire the combination of old and new elements from all angles.
