Jean Servais Somian
Giordano Viganò
Jean Servais Somian is a designer who studied between his homeland - the Ivory Coast - and Switzerland. He trained in Georges Ghandour’s carpentry and cabinet-making workshop in Abidjan’s Grand-Bassam craft centre, and in Daniel Beck’s design agency in Lausanne. After spending a number of years divided between Africa and Europe, his creations reflect and blend these worlds to fascinating effect. Produced in very limited series and with a personality all of their own, his pieces often overlap with sculpture, but without neglecting practical purpose. His contemporary design also features ancestral influences. A key feature of his creativity is the natural materials he uses, including coconut, ebony or amazak wood. Yet he also draws inspiration from everyday African objects, such as basins, containers, sponges, or old fishermen’s pirogues, whilst giving them a new twist. The result sees furniture with essential lines and surprising designs. His work has been showcased in numerous exhibitions in Africa, Europe, the United States and Latin America. In 2018, he opened his design studio in Ivory Coast in Grand-Bassam.
Giordano Viganò is one of Italy’s most important and well-known Italian master craftsmen. With the skill of a great cabinet maker and outstanding expertise in all things wood-related, he transforms noble woods in his workshop in Novedrate - located in the industrious Brianza area - into timeless objects and furniture imbued with unique quality and artisan skill. His passion for craftsmanship, finely honed work and the care lavished on even the tiniest detail are the cornerstones of his many years of experience, which has spanned the history of home design past and present, embracing classic and designer pieces. In over fifty years in the trade, he has become a point of reference for designers, companies and galleries that rely on his expertise and talent to bring their projects and prototypes to life. In 2016, he received the Master of Art and Craft award from the Cologni Foundation for the Metiers d’Art.
