(Geometrical) Art Fair Inspirations

Most of us may not be able to afford expensive artworks, yet visiting an art fair can be equally inspiring to look at the pieces on display (or, if you're a designer and you're interested in an arty collaboration, you may find some useful contacts via a gallery).

Until tomorrow Italian gallery Mazzoleni is at the Arte Fiera Bologna (Hall 26 – Booth B49; address: Quartiere Fieristico, Viale della Fiera 20, Bologna). The booth features Mazzoleni's usual suspects, including Getulio Alviani, Agostino Bonalumi, Alberto Burri, Giuseppe Capogrossi, Enrico Castellani, Piero Dorazio and Lucio Fontana. But you will also get the chance to (re)discover at the booth Japanese artist Shigeru Saito.

Born in Tokyo in 1974, Saito graduated in the late '90s in Fine Arts at Meisei University. A fortuitous encounter with Kunio Kondo, sculptor and professor of traditional Japanese architecture and a close friend of Enrico Castellani, introduced him to the works of the Italian master. Castellani's relief surfaces mesmerised Saito who started creating intricate geometric works inspired by the Italian artist.

Saito has been working with marble, wood, metals, creating minimalist works or complex geometrical pieces characterised by a trigonometric virtuosity.

From 2005 to 2007 he was nominated Delegate of the Cultural Japanese Ministry in Italy to carry out artistic researches. In 2013, he took part in the "Infinito Riflesso" exhibition, at CAMUSAC, Cassino, where his works dialogued with those of Enrico Castellani.

It would be refreshing to see some of Saitu's bigger artworks miniaturised and transformed into wearable 3D printed architectural jewels and accessories. He looks like the sort of artist Iris Van Herpen may collaborate with one day.