Francesca Mo // Ph: Fabrizio Stipari

by Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi

The exceptional Italian jewel designer Francesca Mo presents her new collection in Milan. The exhibit – called +1 – features new designs of necklaces, earrings, rings, cufflinks, broaches and will run from November 20th through to December 12th, in the prestigious Subert gallery, located in the heart of the quadrilateral of fashion: via Spiga 42.

In this Exclusive Interview, Francesca Mo tells us all about her exquisite designs:

How did your adventure as a jewel designer begin?

I’m an architect and designer. I graduated in architecture at the Politecnico in Milan and worked in several architecture firms before going freelance. While working as an architect, I developed a passion for jewel design and started creating my own line. Eventually, in 2002 I designed some jewellery for my mother’s birthday. Mr Jean Bleanchaers, the director of Gallery Bleanchaers, noticed my work and organised my first exhibition: ‘Sea glass mounted on gold.’ From there on many other exhibitions of new collections followed, until my most recent ones: the first, in May 2014, at the Museo Poldi Pezzoli called ‘The Soft House,’ and the three other exhibitions at Subert Gallery in Milan.

What artistic movements have influenced your designs?

I owe my knowledge and passion for the arts to my father, the sculptor Carlo Mo. From an early age he taught me how to see things from a different angle and to consider the importance of proportion. Long silent walks with him along the banks of the river Ticino, observing everything around us, no matter how big or small, were the best training for my job. In the art and design field many authors have inspired and still inspire me, three of them influence my design: Amedeo Modigliani for the colours, Burri for the poetry and my father for the light.

You often connect your jewels to the imaginary world of children, how important do you think is to maintain a childlike vision on life?

Everyone of us has been a child, so we all remember what this vision means. We simply must not hide our innermost feelings. It is important to maintain a childlike vision because you feel happier, and curious about everything that surrounds you. For instance I have always been fascinated by the way time affects natural objects as well as artefacts abandoned by people. Nature claims them back. This slow process makes these pieces valuable and unique. Every stone we see is a hypothetical gemstone worked by time and nature. Sand is an example: millions and millions of grains of sand that make up different shades and colours which you can see encased between two glass wafers in my Hourglass collection.

Sea elements, such as shells, often recur in your creations, what fascinates you of the water world?

The flow of water over the course of time transforms everything. I sometimes use shells together with sand and corals but I don’t think that sand or stone or shells are necessarily better than other materials. In my last exhibition I made a ring that contained leftovers from books or I utilised textile jewels.

Francesca Mo // Ph: Fabrizio Stipari

Tell me about how you conceived your latest collection +1…

In my last collection +1 I made one new jewel for everyone of my previous collections. It was fun to redesign a ring, or a pair of earrings or cuffing of an old collection. I somehow renewed the old.

Where can we find your jewels?

At Subert Gallery on the 2nd floor, in Milan, or I may send my objects to people who write to me at info@subert.it.

Are you already working on your next collection?

I’m preparing a new exhibit with a Greek designer, Thalia Maria Georgoulis, but this time I’ll make objects….

Francesca Mo // Ph: Fabrizio Stipari

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