Join the Galerie Philia newsletter. Be the very first to know about our limited arrivals, receive special offers and more.

    Lorenzo Bini

    Lorenzo Bini

    1. Where were you born and where are you from ?

    I was born in Milano, Italy from Milanese parents.

    2. What is your first memory connected to the art world ?

    I met Gianfranco Maraniello in high school, we were in the same class and quickly became best friends. His father Giuseppe is an artist and the attendance of Gianfranco brought me close to art. I was stoked when I realized that Giuseppe was doing office hours exactly like my dad but would spend his days painting and casting bronze…

    3. Have you always worked in the art/design field ?

    I did those little part time jobs you often do as a kid, but at least since work has become my main activity I am in the design field, design and architecture to be precise.

    4. What led you to the design creation ?

    Already as a child I was drawing all the time. I guess my mum gave me some sheets of paper and some pencils and I just started fooling around with them. Later, as I graduated from high school, I went to the Architecture University because I thought there was a lot of drawing involved and I had spent 5 years studying ancient Greek and Latin, so I wanted my drawing back…

    5. How would you describe your creative process and it influences ?

    I don’t like the adjective ‘creative’, I can rather describe my process as a process of transformation.

    6. Could you describe a typical day of your work ?

    It usually involves a good deal of communication, coordination, problem solving. The time to think, react to a design challenge, turn a project around and make a decision usually comes when I walk from somewhere to somewhere else or when I discuss stuff with clients, colleagues or collaborators.

    7. Why did you choose the specific materials you work with ?

    Because I am intrigued by their nature, their properties and the process that makes them available.

    8. What are the technical particularities of your creations ?

    Simplicity, geometry, craftmanship, efficiency… But as I said, I don’t create.

    9. What advices could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works ?

    Ask yourself if what you are doing is making you happy. If it does continue regardless of its purpose, if it doesn’t just quit as soon as you finish reading this sentence.

    10. If your works had to belong to a design movement, in which one would you define it ?

    It is impossible to answer this question, but I’d be happy if what I do could be as free as Italian Radicalism and as strict as German Modernism.

    11. What designers have influenced you ?

    Ettore Sottsass, Achille Castiglioni, Vico Magistretti and Enzo Mari. I am shortsighted so I just answer without looking beyond my national borders.

    12. What contemporary designers do you appreciate ?

    Maarten Baas because he’s a genious, Max Lamb because he’s really able to break free, Francesco Faccin because he’s carrying on the Italian legacy

    13. What contemporary artists (in any kind of art) have you been inspired by ?

    Sol Lewitt is my North Star, Nick Cave is my ocean, Karl Ove Knausgård is my form of addiction.

    14. If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be ?

    Although ‘creations’ are not my thing I would steal this sentence ‘Wandering with a compass’ from Javier Marías

    15. Is there anything you would like to add ?

    Forget about everything I just said.

    Leave a Reply