Amidst the serene and tranquil ambiance of the 14th-century Certosa di San Giacomo monastery on the beautiful Italian island of Capri, a remarkable display of furniture recently took place, courtesy of Lebanese Paris-based interior designer, Chahan Minassian. Inspired by the Mediterranean surroundings that the Certosa overlooks, Minassian's exhibit, titled "Cruise," marked the debut of his Chahan Gallery at the prestigious art and design fair, Nomad Capri.
The presentation exuded the essence of Capri's coastal scenery, with a delightful assortment of furniture and artwork, adorned in captivating shades of turquoise, bronze, blues, and creams. Fusing the worlds of art and design, the showcase featured sculptural works, paintings, and furniture, including innovative creations by Marie Khouri and Antoinette Faragallah. Minassian himself contributed a Murano glass Canal Grande table, reminiscent of Venetian styles, and Emilio Martinez's mesmerizing abstract expressionist painting, "Mother of Us."
Minassian, born in 1961 to a Lebanese-Armenian family and settled in Paris since 1976, is well known for his lavish, artistic, and balanced interior designs. The illustrious Hotel de Crillon in Paris bears the stamp of his creative vision. Besides his interior design expertise, Minassian is also an antique dealer and operates the Chahan Gallery in Paris, specializing in lighting designs and furniture. In 2019, he curated the Abbazia di San Gregorio in partnership with Colnaghi Gallery for the Venice Biennale.
In an Arab News interview, Minassian revealed his design inspiration from spaces, guiding architecture and sparking imagination. This was evident in his Capri exhibition, cleverly blending Khouri's cream-colored shell-like pieces with Faragallah's natural totems, alongside his own creations.
The terrace setting further enhanced the exhibition, seamlessly blending the monastery's architecture with the breathtaking sea view and the rocky spurs rising from the water. Minassian skillfully integrated 1950s design elements with elegant curved lines and a touch of turquoise to create a harmonious interplay of aesthetics.
A true admirer of history and heritage, Minassian also enjoys revitalizing objects from the past, breathing new life into them. His use of vibrant green, teal, and turquoise in the exhibited works not only paid tribute to the sea's character but also infused them with a captivating charm.
Currently, Minassian is engaged in an array of exciting projects, ranging from a palazzo in Venice to townhouses in London, chalets in Kitzbuhel and Gstaad, a city house in Geneva, prestigious apartments in New York, private jets, and various retail spaces in Paris. His dedication to preserving the soul of each space and letting it guide his creative expression continues to elevate his work to new heights.
