In Buddhism, the three marks of existence are three undeniable truths of all that exists: impermanence, imperfection and incompleteness. The three marks of existence have inspired numerous ideologies around the world that search for beauty in the imperfect, embrace the incomplete and celebrate the impermanent.

Today’s notions of beauty, driven by societal norms and technological advancements, emphasize perfection, symmetry and flawlessness. The perfect face should be symmetrical, diamonds are valued on their flawlessness, contemporary architecture is firmly rooted in clean lines and immaculate glass facades.

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. Perhaps we are attracted to the imperfect because we see ourselves as imperfect, as incomplete. It is clear that despite all our advancements in manufacturing and precision, we are drawn to the uncontrollable, intrigued by it.

Marks of existence is a collection of unique objects designed to highlight the allure of natural materials; the impossibly complex weaves of texture, colour and forms that, despite our ever-expanding capabilities, are still completely unattainable and irreproducible.

At the center of Marks of Existence is Travertino Ascolano, a traditional stone with roots back to many corners of the world and like most natural stones features beautiful complexities of texture, colour and features. With Travertino, more than other stones, the imperfections and irregularities bring something unique and unexpected to the surface of the stone. The stone in the collection is supplemented with a wooden Ikat weave, inspired by ancient techniques but reinterpreted and modernised into something alluring and complex. Again imperfect, the Ikat on show is made intriguing by the varying sizes and shapes of the weave again mirroring the natural beginnings of the material.

The pieces in Marks of Existence have been conceived by nine (now 11) Movimento artists, each one imprinting their own style and aesthetics into their work. With the artists hailing from a global selection of countries, each piece inherits the culture, inspirations and past experiences of the designer resulting in a piece of work that tells a somewhat coded story of the artist.

Marks of Existence opened a new chapter for Movimento Gallery. It was the first gallery-initiated collection for Movimento and marked the start of a new direction for the gallery. Limited to the same materials, eleven designers use their experience and style to craft a unique piece of collectible design, produced and distributed exclusively by Movimento Gallery.

This April, Marks of Existence comes to Spazio Vento, opening from the 4th April in conjunction with MiArt and will remain on show until 12th April covering both MiArt and Milan Design Week. Spazio Vento can be located at Via Pinamonte da Vimercate 4, Milan.

Photography by Marcello Maranzan