A conversation between Vanessa Stella and Riana Raouna
Recently, I had the pleasure of engaging in a conversation with Riana Raouna, gallerist and respected voice in the world of contemporary art in Cyprus. It was a stimulating dialogue, born from a question that today defines my work more than ever: what does it mean to create an art-design product in the present day?
For me, the answer lies in rediscovering a sacredness of gesture that once seemed to belong only to the past.
The Artistic Gesture as the Heart of Interior Design
Today, we no longer seek objects that simply occupy a space, but elements capable of inhabiting it with a soul. At Unica, we interpret furnishings not as industrial products, but as a composition of artistic gestures. Just as in the great eras of the past, where décor was not a superficial addition but the very
essence of the work itself, we bring art back into everyday function.
Creating art-design today means transforming a surface, a tabletop, or a detail into a moment of pure expression. It is not merely about aesthetics, but about the importance of the handmade: that human trace, imperfect and therefore precious, which turns a piece of furniture into a unique work.
Beyond Function: The Space as a Total Work of Art
During the interview with Riana, we explored how artistic gestures integrated into furnishings can radically change the perception of an environment. When art is no longer hanging on a wall, but exists within the table around which we gather or within the texture of a boiserie, the space itself becomes a total work of art.
“Modern design has often pursued minimalism while forgetting the emotional power of decoration. With Unica, we want to return to that refined craftsmanship where every piece tells a story of hands, thought, and authentic beauty.”
For me, art-design is precisely this: overcoming the boundary between the art gallery and the living space. It is the luxury of surrounding oneself with creations that still preserve the vibration of the creative moment.
Vanessa Stella
Founder & Designer, Unica
Discover our collections where art meets matter:
https://www.unicaluxury.com/collections