While reading a recent issue of
Elle Décor I stumbled across a short
piece on fabric and wallpaper designer Idarica Gazzoni, and was completely
intrigued!
Idarica Gazzoni is an Italian artist and designer,
well renowned for her fresco work. However, over the past two years, she has
turned her passion for turning walls into art into a full-on wallpaper and
fabric design company. Gazzoni’s prints are hand painted onto natural fibers
including linen, cotton, linen voile, and wool – but this isn’t the only
natural element to Gazzoni’s work – the motifs in her designs are inspired by
nature and the geometry of the natural world. The designs also reflect the
Mughal history of southern Asia.
Mughal art is one of my passions so I had to learn more about Gazzoni’s
inspiration.
Gazzoni’s collection is named after the Mughal princess
Ajumand - the third wife of Emperor Shah Jahan. She was Shah Jahan’s favorite
wife, but died giving birth to her 14th child. Shah Jahan
commissioned the Taj Mahal in her memory. The Taj Mahal – the greatest example
of Mughal architecture in the world - is actually Ajumand and Shah Jahan’s
tomb, and an everlasting symbol of their love. Gazzoni’s fabric and wallpaper
collection features 15 designs; one for Ajumand and each of her children.
The
designs are a modern take on traditional Mughal motifs – arabesque curves, red
and white floral patterns, and pointed dome shapes. Each pattern comes in warm,
cool, and neutral hues to best fit the purchaser’s look. One of my favorite
designs is called “Day Screen” and is a cloth representation of the stone jalis
used on windows in Mughal buildings. I also love “Poppy Dance” and “Arjumand”
because the colors and floral patterns remind me of the beautiful and intricate
stone inlay work in the Taj Mahal.
Day Screen
Other patterns from the collection
Gazzoni is continuing the Mughal theme by creating patterns
representing a fictional journey that Arjumand possibly could have taken across
the Mughal Empire if she had lived. This theoretical journey allows Gazzoni to
incorporate other motifs from around the world of Islam into her work. This can
be seen in her “Turkish Moon” designs. There are also influences from Tibet,
Iran, Pakistan, and Northern Africa. Gazzoni wonderfully captures both a
fictional story and the true history from cultures around the world into
designs to be used in every day décor. It is an incredible and beautiful feat.
Cameron Bruns is the founder of
Boston Green Blog and a contributor
to
Merida, the premier source for
distinctively designed
natural rugs with
a conscience for sustainability.