Marks of Existence, a new collection of collectible furniture from Movimento Gallery (of London and Milan), refers to Buddhism’s three marks that characterize existence: imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. For the show, eight of the gallery’s designers conceived of pieces using the same material — Travertino Ascolano — to celebrate asymmetry, irregularity, and the patterns, cycles, and forces of nature that can never fully be replicated or mimicked by machines or technique. “Today’s notions of beauty, driven by societal norms and technological advancements, emphasize perfection, symmetry and flawlessness,” the gallery’s curators write. “Why then, do we still prize the rich patina that leather develops over time, why are we so in awe of the large-scale tapestries that form in marble and so fascinated by the concentric but irregular milestones at the centre of every tree trunk. These natural artworks, each an irreproducible one-of-a-kind, are beautiful to us not because of their precision or their flawlessness but rather their unpredictability, their imperfections; each unexpected blemish carrying stories and memories of past experiences and resilience.”

The collection was just launched at the PAD London fair in an exhibition designed and styled by Artefatto Design Studio, which also contributed a leather and lacquered wood bench and throne-like lounge, as well as an angular console. Additional works include a duet of mirrors by Studio Zero, a stool by Federica Elmo, consoles by Pietro Francheschini and Tipstudio, side tables from Celo1 and Estudio Persona, and a coffee table by Federica Biasi.

PHOTOS BY MARCELLO MARANZAN