A dialogue between art & furniture

SQUAT London, a creative collaboration between Nina Yashar and Delhi-born architect and interior designer Shalini Mishra, proves two heads are better than one

Nina Yashar is a force to be reckoned with in the design industry. Since the 90s, her Milan gallery, Nilufar, has been known for its keen sense of design. With every piece being a collectible, Nilufar's manifesto is composed of three words: "Discovering, Crossing, Creating". And one of Yashar's passion projects, SQUAT, has now become a part of the annual design calendar.
Every year, Yashar puts together a pop-up in one city of choice where she takes over an existing space and turns it into a living, breathing example of what Nilufar stands for. Last year it was Beirut, and this year, it is London.
SQUAT London mixes Nilufar's offerings of historic and contemporary design in the first floor apartment of a Victorian building in Mayfair. And this year, the architect behind the vision is Shalini Mishra. Mishra, who is originally from Delhi, now runs an interior design company that has global clients, though London has become her stronghold. In her 15 years in the industry, her portfolio includes two penthouses overlooking Regent's Park, London. Her collaboration with Nina Yashar led to the fifth iteration of Nilufar SQUAT and, from the furniture to the enamelled metal ceiling lamps, everything inside the apartment space is for sale (and the space is so beautiful, it makes you want to move in rightaway).
But SQUAT is more than a commercial project - it is a reflection of how design, décor and architecture are art forms that embrace heritage with innovation and purpose. Everything in this apartment is functional, from the bathroom to the kitchen. As much as it is aesthetically pleasing, Mishra has ensured this project is practical too. "I met Nina at her depot at Milan's Salone del Mobile in 2015 and we decided instantly that we wanted to collaborate," explains Shalini. "I always had a 360 degree view of integrating interiors with trend setters, art galleries and designers to create a unique holistic collaboration. Doing a SQUAT exhibition in London seemed like the ideal scenario, because we could easily use one of our real estate development flats in Mayfair." Shalini has been visiting Nilufar for well over a decade and she often takes her bespoke clients to the gallery, which is a home for eclectic chic. While the pieces on display at SQUAT London can be found on Nilufar's inventory list, Shalini has ensured she has given the apartment her own stamp. "SQUAT London is an opulent, edgy concept, giving a new angle to objects curated in a real home," she says.
To start with, Shalini has ensured she pays homage to the heritage of the building. "In the case of the Mayfair apartment, the space works perfectly, showcasing the interiors and beautiful furniture. The huge windows throughout the apartment allow natural light to flood in, perfectly illuminating the beautiful metallic finishes and detailed upholstery. The high ceilings call for large ornamental chandeliers so the handpicked pieces from Nilufar Gallery fit seamlessly into the property. It's a sublime balance of interiors, art, lighting and furniture working together to create an inviting, grand and livable home." A retro vibe is given thanks to the use of polished plaster and mid-century materials such as bronze and wood. "A lot of mid-century designers and designs are proving timeless as they look contemporary now," adds Shalini. There is no question that the 50s and 60s are a constant source of inspiration for this SQUAT collaboration - like the Positano vanity table by Ico Parisi from 1959 that is full of charm and elegance. The centrepiece of the living room is a Gio Ponti chandelier made of brass and glass. And spanning it is the geometrically strong ceiling lamp, which was manufactured in the 1960s. It truly brings all the pieces of the room together. The entrance has a curious chest of drawers by Roberto Giulio Rida, which is a unique piece consisting of seven drawers covered in black opaline glass and vintage glass spheres from Murano. All the materials it employs are from the 1950s and 1960s.
Attention has been paid to art, an important feature throughout the apartment. A must-see is Nikolas Gambaroff polyethylene film pieces, which have holes in them to reveal the walls behind. The material is also reflective, giving viewers a glimpse of the rest of the room on it. "I find Vik Muniz' Monads (Small Change) installment, which features in one of the bedrooms, really striking," says Shalini. "It is a photo composed entirely of copper coins and it was placed on a wall with metallic cork wallpaper. The respective metallic hints play off each other exquisitely," she says. "The art and furniture pieces in the entire apartment are dreamy because there is such a mix of interesting artists and designers such as Lindsey Adelman, Bethan Laura Wood, Martino Gamper, Ico Parisi and Gio Ponti. To see furniture by these talents set within an apartment designed by my company, alongside art by Warhol, Lachapelle and Matisse, is amazing."
The apartment is open till fall, and bloggers, designers, artists and gallerists are among those who reacted favourably to SQUAT London. This staged living space, and its whole travelling ethos really shows how a home can be one's own personal gallery. As Shalini says, "It is a space where interiors can have a conversation with art and furniture. It promotes young furniture designers, exhibiting their work in a residential setting. Art can be seen in this more natural setting next to a bed or a sofa rather than in a gallery." And this fifth edition of SQUAT reaffirms that, in art and design, collaboration and dialogue result in real progress."
sujata@khaleejtimes.com

Nina Yashar, founder of Milan gallery Nilufar

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