Hidden Entourage

When Hartmut Esslinger founded Frog Design with the motto "form follows emotion," he challenged the soulless tech objects of his time, introducing a new era of hardware design that prioritized beauty and allure alongside functionality and engineering. Supaform takes this concept to its extreme in his exhibition at Rome's Contemporary Cluster Gallery. The pieces, though barely functional, provoke discomfort initially, raising questions about a world where design is purely aesthetic. Yet, in an era where furniture blurs with art, it feels like we're already there, especially against the ornate backdrop of the gallery's home, the 14th-century Palazzo Brancaccio.

"The Hidden Heritage" collection emerged from a visual exploration of comfort's boundaries, celebrating "beauty for no reason." The lamp lacks a bulb, the coffee table is impractical, and the desk features trick drawers and a gap in its writing surface. However, the seating elements remain functional.