Visionary and radical artists, word-of-mouth addresses: meeting with Charley Vezza

Since I have been involved in Italian Radical Design I am always surrounded by objects and icons. Whether it is a Cactus by Gufram or a Carlton bookcase by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis, I can no longer separate possession from work. A year ago I was walking around Brooklyn with a friend. We noticed a few people in front of a studio, went inside and were immersed in a sea of voluptuous shapes and bright colours. We are greeted by a young, nice guy: I was already familiar with the work of Misha Kahn, but I was overwhelmed. This year for the debut of Italian Radical Design at the Salone we present Morphologica, one of her sofas and armchairs for Meritalia.

Divano Morphologica di Misha Kahn per MERITALIA, novità del Salone 2024.

The LAST PIECE TO BE ADDED TO THE WARDROBE IS THE ONE TO BE TRANSMITTED .

My fiancée is a designer, she is the co-founder of the brand The Attic. She made me custom-fit a piece from the collection, a black leather bomber jacket that I cherish. Definitely worth handing down are the John Galliano garments I bought as a teenager, some with the 'Gazette' print, to be precise: I kept them all, have a small archive and am very proud of them (Anja black bomber jacket, 1,970 euro).

My favourite room in my home .

My study is an 'amarcord' place. I have recreated there with the same measurements, style, materials the desk of the room I grew up in as a boy. When I am sitting at the computer, some historical pieces from my companies appear behind me, forming the background to the calls. There is also a giant picture of me, taken by Pierpaolo Ferrari, in which I am leaning on a vintage car covered with beer cans.

Vezza in uno scatto di Pierpaolo Ferrari. ©Pieropaolo Ferrari / TOILETPAPER

LAST MEAL THAT IMPRESSED ME

The green mussels from Mills Bay, New Zealand. Fried, au gratin or steamed, that's all you eat in Havelock. The only downside is that the restaurant has no liquor licence, so no beer.

Le cozze verdi con macadamia, erba cipollina e crosta di alghe agli agrumi servite da Mills Bay, in Nuova Zelanda.

IN MY Fridge NEVER LACKS .

A bottle of Charley, the classic method bubbles my mother produces in her winery L'Astemia Pentita. She named them after me. A fresh, direct, even a little edgy sparkling wine: she says it looks like me (sparkling wine Charley classic method Brut 2019, 28 euros, shop.astemiapentita.it ).

LAST MUSIC I LISTENED TO.

A few days ago while in Milan, Asap Rocky, whom I know and who collaborates with Gufram, gave me a preview of some tracks from his forthcoming album: it's a bomb! Lately I have been listening a lot to Mulatu Astatke, father of ethio-jazz ( open.spotify.com ).

Metacactus (2012), edizione limitata di 300 pezzi, GUFRAM.

my favourite sites and apps .

New York Times and The Telegraph, to bring me up to date. Science on the Net and The Last Man for my passions, science and sports. Alltrails is my latest favourite app, for planning a walk in the woods wherever you are ( nytimes.com; telegraph.co.uk; scienzainrete.it; ultimouomo.com; alltrails.com ).

MY STYLE ICON

Definitely David Bowie (a special limited edition of the Diamond Dogs album, 50 years after its release, has been available since 24 May).

A PLEASURE I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP.

Sunday lunch at the osteria with friends. In the Langhe, my favourite restaurant is La Piazzetta in Valdivilla. Nonna Piera in the kitchen with her daughter Lorenza and her grandson Umberto known as 'Bebo' to entertain in the dining room. It is an authentic experience of the place, eating typical, traditional food. I recommend the green fritters with 'friciule', the Piedmontese version of gnocco fritto (strada Valdivilla, 48, Santo Stefano Belbo).

LAST OBJECT I PURCHASED AND LOVED .

The Liebherr LR 13000 tracked crane from Lego Technic. 2,883 pieces that I am putting together, although I can never find the time. Love and frustration (680 euros,  lego.com ).

Gru cingolata Liebherr LR 13000 Powered UP, 2.883 pezzi, LEGO (680 €)

The BEST GIFT I HAVE GIVEN .

A lullaby I had specially composed for the birth of the child of a couple of dear friends.

And WHAT I RECEIVED

A Murano glass half-bust representing me, produced in Giorgio Giuman's glassworks in Venice. My fiancée gave it to me, perhaps to emphasise my ego. Much appreciated anyway.

THE HOTELS I LOVE MOST

I also choose the destinations I travel to based on the hotels, I like authentic facilities. It's hard to choose, but I've spent wonderful days at the Ceylon Tea Trails in Sri Lanka (€600 suites, resplendentceylon.com/teatrails ), the Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand (€2,700 rooms,  rosewoodhotels.com/en/cape-kidnappers ) and also at Hacienda de San Antonio, in Mexico.

THOSE I TRUST FOR MY PERSONAL WELL-BEING.

My personal trainer, Giuseppe Marchesan, is the first person I see almost every morning. I eat following a personalised diet made by Giuseppe Cuzzocrea, a nutritionist who follows the Juventus first team. When I can, I take padel lessons with the great champion Andrea Masoero. And then I rely on an extraordinary dermatologist, Claudia Menicanti. In short, a real team of professionals! ( drcuzzocreanutrition.it ; to train with Masoero, tennisclubalba.it ).

AN UNFORGETTABLE PLACE WHERE I TRAVELED

I will be very specific: a work by Robert Irwin, Untitled (dawn to dusk), is a location within the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas. It is 7.43 p.m. on 14 August 2022, the light of the setting sun entering the space (the exhibitions John Chamberlain Sculptures and Paintings and Porfirio Gutiérrez, Cosmos/Continuous Line are on view until July).

IF I HAD TO LIMIT MY SHOPPING TO A CITY DISTRICT, I WOULD CHOOSE

New York, I could buy everything between Mercer and Green Street.

THE ARTIST I WOULD COLLECT IF I COULD

Pino Pascali, one of the most important exponents of Arte Povera, died too young (the exhibition Pino Pascali is open until 23 September at the Fondazione Prada in Milan).

“Solitario”(1968), di Pino Pascali. La mostra sull’artista è aperta fino al 23 settembre alla Fondazione Prada di Milano. ©Foto Attilio Maranzano. Courtesy Fondazione Prada

MUSEUM OR GALLERY THAT I CONSIDER MOST INTERESTING AT THE MOMENT

In Palermo, in Piazza Antonio Pasqualino, there is L'Ascensore: an experimental exhibition space curated by the artist duo Genuardi/Ruta. They have done more than 30 exhibitions hosting young artists from all over the world. A breath of fresh air in the torrid heat of Sicily.

The WORK OF ART I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO CREATE .

Maurizio Cattelan's Finger in Piazza Affari in Milan. I like to imagine what it will arouse in 100 years' time in the people who will look at it, perhaps unaware of its history. Together with Maurizio and Paolo Dalla Mora, we have put just that miniature 'finger' inside a bottle of grappa, it is called Sgrappa (49 euro).

La grappa Sgrappa: contiene una miniatura del Dito di Cattelan (49 €).

THE MOST RADICAL DESIGNER

Gaetano Pesce, the radical of radicals. We often discuss the fine line between art and design: he has been dancing on that line for 50 years and never ceases to amaze us.

Vasi Tall design Gaetano Pesce, MERITALIA.

If I DID NOT DO WHAT I DO I WOULD LIKE TO BE...

A director.