Le Meduse di Gianfranco Coltella

Informazioni Generali

Studying and working in Milan in the field of the Design in those magic 80s, meant having as professor one like Bruno Munari, who after school invited you home to discuss about Art; and then in the evening go to the many inaugurations downtown to see Memphis with Ettore Sottsass who presented new pieces (today in museums all over the world).

Having friends in New York, Mexico, or Vancouver and share work experiences in studies like Arch. Gregotti, De Pas, Alchemy and Sottsass associated, and without noticed, living a slice of the Italian design history.

It knows that those who are born in the province, feel the need to go at a slower pace. So for me the 90s are a return to manual work that I learned in art school of Saluzzo.

The marriage to Mary who appreciate art, like me, coincides with the self-production and the use of glass and light. The first creatures in glass born in my house in the historical center of Saluzzo. Soft shapes made of a thousand pieces that are held together with little glue, and are structured as the architecture of the domes. The similarity with the jellyfish, unique transparent creatures and bright, they also inspired the name and the brand.

In 1989-1996 i was teaching at the IED in Turin, subjects such as Basic Design, Color and Gestalt, that my self had learned in the school of Munari, Marcolli, Garau, Di Salvatore (Scuola Politecnica di Design, the first private school of design in Italy born in 1954 in Milan) and I applied these theories to the glass, that i created Sassi, Corals, Stalagmites, Ice, Clovers, Spirals.The forms were born spontaneously, without drawings, only with the idea, the hands and the heart (passion).

In 1994 i go back to Milan and propose the first light sculptures, to Dilmos in one of the most prestigious design galleries in the Brera area.They were so original at the time that the sale was an immediate success, so many models are born the first catalog and a price list.Thanks to the environment in Milan attended by architects, artists, designers, contacts and even grow along requests. Forms become larger and larger, we go from table objects to modular systems as the light curtain, the spiral or the rain, or to real light installations.

They ask me to light cinemas, restaurants, theaters and even a cruise ships. They are also published in international journals and books, exhibitions like the second Salone Satellite at the Milan Fair.

The first workshop where i collaborated on a project with a supportive work center, I finnaly can invest thanks to the success of the first seven years, buying a shed.

Since 2000, Jellyfish becomes in effect a company with 7/8 employees (many former students of the art school of Saluzzo) and an increasing revenue.These were years of hard work and satisfaction, in seeing crates packed properly, facing trips that the province Granda depart for Paris, Moscow, Hong Kong, Sydney and even the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, the construction philosophy is always the same recycled glass to 90% and the low-voltage lighting or LED for minimal environmental impact, because I always thought that you can produce anything, but those who design has the duty to think about largest consumer of the earth's resources are limited.Now that the market is changing, Le Meduse tries to bring to the world this style that has always distinguished us, the simplicity of the material and the beauty of wonder in front of the light and its effects in the environment, where man lives.