Stitching Wood: Lissoni’s Latest Creation
Part of Listone Giordano’s Natural Genius collection, Nui is a series inspired by an ancient Japanese technique.
The UK gave her a sense of "heritage", the ability to interweave tradition and modernity, and a love of antiques and antiquity. The first furniture she designed was made for her own home, but when requests started flooding in — first from friends and then from friends of friends —, Nada started her own business. Today, a dynamic structure designs, manufactures and distributes furniture — sometimes in limited editions —, and accessories for the home (East and East and Contemporary collections), which can be found in New York, Dubai, Cairo, Amman, and Geneva. In Beirut, her work can be found both in the Nada Debs Gallery, opened in Saifi Village in 2003, and in the Nada Debs Boutique. We meet her at the Design Days Dubai fair, where the Beirut-based Carwan Gallery and Smogallery are showing her work.
Nadia Debs: To celebrate the quality of Middle-Eastern craftsmanship and combine it with international taste. I want to interpret the Arab heritage on a contemporary note. I believe our tradition has its own charm, featuring ornament and captivating decoration that can be globally appreciated. Initially, when I showed my designs in Beirut, people would tell me they weren't "Western enough". This made me think that the Arabs had failed to forge "their own identity" in design. I wondered why design had to be Western and found my own formula. I started using resin instead of wood, Plexiglas because I love transparency (I have never liked hiding things) and concrete coupled with mother-of-pearl — I love contrasts. I applied and adapted our traditional patterns innovatively. I see universal value in geometry made of pure lines and in all its developments. A baby draws a circle in the desert sand just as it would in the snow. Geometry instils a special sense of security and mystery in me. I am a Damien Hirst fan [she smiles] but I can't rationally explain why his dots are so fascinating and touch our emotions. This desire to combine and blend different cultures prompted the choice of name for my company.
Exactly, it refers to Japan, the Far East and the Middle East, Middle East due East. It is very important for me and part of my personal culture.
How would you define your design?
Modern-arabesque. I seek the perfect equilibrium between ornament and simplicity.
In your travels, you have drawn diverse things from the cultures you came in contact with.
I see myself as a citizen of the world although my roots are firmly planted in the country where I live today. I learnt much from Japan, the United States and the UK and from my travels. I believe all this is reflected in my artistic output.
I thought I could bring something new to my country: my experience, my spirit and my enthusiasm. I continued my work, designing as I had been doing; a type of multicultural design that would appeal to international and local markets both.
What is it like to be a female entrepreneur in Lebanon?
The numbers are growing! There has been a great buzz all over the country recently. Beirut, especially, is a city full of surprises, packed with resident artists and creatives. I believe I paved the way for women who want to focus on design.
For the first time in many years, I shan't come to Milan for the famous — and unmissable — Salone del Mobile in April. It is absolutely the first time but I have decided to devote some time to myself and go on a retreat. One of those where you live in silence for more than ten days, just thinking. I want to understand what is happening inside and outside me and have a chance to concentrate not only on me as a person but also on my profession. I am telling you about it because my next creative goal is to manage to add spirituality to this art form called design. When I say spirituality, I mean human energy. It may involve geometry or even numerology, who knows?
.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg "Nada Debs")
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