Moments of presence with Mario Milana
Mario Milana's works focus on the interaction between body, mind, and objects. With this approach, the Milan-based furniture designer seeks to integrate the habit of presence into everyday life and expand the meditative practice beyond an assigned time and place.
Mario, born in Milan, moved to New York City in 2005, where he lived for almost twenty years. The city opened up new possibilities for him and fueled his personal and professional growth. "New York was full of energy, and the exchange you have there gives you so much."
It was during a busy time that Mario turned to meditation. "I found it difficult to find a balance between work, family, and myself. Meditation gave me the ability to deal with stress, engage with a slower pace of life, and be more present. Gabriella, my wife, also meditates and suggested I begin this practice, and it's something you can only start when you're ready."
The only way something lasts over time is when you are honest with yourself and understand that you really need something.
After years of working in a studio, and perhaps as a chain reaction to major changes in her life, she also found her own creative identity. A special attention to surprise, interaction, and materiality had been part of her worldview, but these notions reached their peak with the Postura dining chair, the first piece signed with her name. “Another aspect is the curiosity you may feel when approaching a specific piece. You might not expect a certain movement or a certain functionality. The moment a person becomes interested in the object and uses it for the first time, it will provoke a certain surprise. Hopefully, that reminiscence, that small memory of that small surprise, will endure into the future. It's very much about translating that genuine reaction into functionality. The visual is just a consequence of that.”
Inspiration
After years of working in a studio, and perhaps as a chain reaction to major changes in her life, she also found her own creative identity. A special attention to surprise, interaction, and materiality had been part of her worldview, but these notions reached their peak with the Postura dining chair, the first piece signed with her name. “Another aspect is the curiosity you may feel when approaching a specific piece. You might not expect a certain movement or a certain functionality. The moment a person becomes interested in the object and uses it for the first time, it will provoke a certain surprise. Hopefully, that reminiscence, that small memory of that small surprise, will endure into the future. It's very much about translating that genuine reaction into functionality. The visual is just a consequence of that.”
