An Evening of Spanish Masterpieces at DDC New York

Design luminaries gathered at the ddc flagship in New York City on Tuesday evening to celebrate the opening of a new show at the design gallery featuring masterworks by Salvador Dalí, Antoni Gaudí and awarded lighting designer and sculptor Arturo Alvarez, who was in attendance. Margaret Russell, editor in chief of Galerie, hosted this special debut of “Spanish Masters.” The brothers who run the design gallery, Babak and Siamak Hakakian, were on hand to share their enthusiasm for the unique pieces on display.

Exquisite one-of-a-kind doors designed by Gaudí in 1904 for Casa Batlló at almost 10 feet in height held everyone’s gaze with their lustrous wood and exquisite craftsmanship, and a collection of Dalí furniture, including a chair and table with high-heeled feet, reminded everyone of the artist’s quirky, hallucinogenic genius.

But it was the work of the artist on hand that truly captivated the guests. In the center of the room, Alvarez’s Encontros, drew much attention with human forms, sculpted by wrapping 1 ½ lengths of the Empire State Building in wire. But it was Conversas, with wire faces whose shadows moved in to kiss as the lighting on them moved, that proved to be the most Instagram-worthy. “If you orient them just slightly different, it completely changes,” marveled Bibak. “Everyone who has come in is going crazy for all of these pieces.”

The special exhibition that will be on view through May at the Madison Avenue at 34th Street location.