Free standing refrigerator Smeg & Dolce&Gabbana 50's Style Aesthetic FAB28R-DG FR05YW

Gianfranco Fiore was born in Switzerland in 1972. He studied at the Monreale Art Institute and the Accademia of Palermo, where he took a degree in Decorative Painting. Among the narrow ancient streets of Palermo’s historic centre he discovered the world of the Sicilian cart and fell in love: he began frequenting the prestigious workshops of the few master craftsmen still in operation and learned traditional decorating techniques from them. He then opened his own studio in Partinico and, with passion and patience, tracked down damaged carts and restored them with the aim of conserving the carts themselves and passing on the tradition. He initiated a series of collaborations with local artisans, creating marvellous carts for folkloric parades and private collections; he also experiments with applying classic cart decorations on other vehicles and design objects.

Enamel and oil, 60 x 151 x 68.2 cm Sicily’s natural beauty is the main source of inspiration for this refrigerator. On the panels and the top, the traditional imagery of the cart (scenes of chivalry and local folklore) is accompanied by lively representations of colourful prickly pears, citrus fruits and flowers, blossoming from an only apparently arid ground. But Sicily’s nature extends beyond the island’s vegetation to encompass the character of its inhabitants: sunny, vibrant and at the same time stubborn and tough. On the top is the scene of Saint George slaying the dragon.