Il Tavolo Divertente

Il Tavolo Divertente is a sculptural furniture piece inspired by an early work of Italian architect Ugo La Pietra. Created for *Complètement Design*, the work challenges traditional notions of function and modern design. Heavy and intentionally impractical, the table embraces contradiction—inviting playfulness over utility.

The tabletop is adorned with a series of bold, irregular sculptural forms that blur the line between object and artwork. Reminiscent of an Isamu Noguchi playground, these shapes evoke softness, tactility, and movement. The surfaces retain visible pinch marks, highlighting the handmade quality and the artist’s interest in textured, comforting forms. Viewers are encouraged to engage with the piece both visually and physically; during its exhibition, many visitors instinctively reached out to touch it.

Beneath the table lies a hidden fresco—an unexpected and whimsical gesture. Rather than leaving the underside bare, the artist chose to embellish it with a ceiling-like painting, playfully referencing Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The fresco was developed in collaboration with Joey Di Venosa of Venosa Interiors (specialists in traditional lime plasters, tadelakt, and micro-cement), using historical techniques and materials such as lime render and raw crushed pigments.

The final surface of the table is finished with a white tin-based glaze—an Italian majolica glaze historically used during the Renaissance as a ground for painted ceramics. This choice references the rich decorative traditions of European ceramic history while grounding the work in a contemporary sculptural context.