In Conversation with Aytül Ayke Fıratoğlu
In Conversation with Aytül Ayke Fıratoğlu
Minval’s first launch in the magical space of Galerist featured a table and display concept created by you. As you positioned each piece almost like a sculpture, what kind of narrative and installation principles did you follow? How did you hope guests who were encountering the brand for the first time would feel as they left the event?
“Marble is a material I love deeply. When I first saw Minval’s pieces, I was very moved by the way the forms given to the marble were combined with metal. The objects I held in my hands possessed a certain sophistication. With that feeling, the first place that came to mind was Galerist. It is one of my favourite galleries in Istanbul; over the years, I have had the chance to see many powerful exhibitions under its roof. The emotion created by the original walls of the space and their contrast with marble offered an incredible harmony. I imagined presenting each object as a work of art within this very special atmosphere. I believe we succeeded in that. Every guest told us how deeply impressed they were by the presentation. For me, the most important aspect of an event design is that the product, the overall atmosphere, and every single detail speak the same language.”
When you incorporate Minval pieces into a table composition, or when you balance a warm ritual with a seemingly “cold” material like marble, how do you build the atmosphere?
“In my table designs, I began using marble alongside Minval pieces. I love contrasts, the use of different materials together, and creating layers on a table. I have created very refined settings where marble sits on crisp, starched linens and is paired with silver. With their pure forms, Minval objects open up many different possibilities within the design.”
When you want to turn a single piece on the table into a “monumental” focal point, what determines the eye’s route as it travels across the setting?
“Rather than having a single piece dominate as the focus, I try to ensure that all the elements in a design have equal strength. Balance is very important to me. Even if I start from one particular object, the pieces that accompany it always rise to meet its importance. Otherwise, reaching what I would call perfection becomes very difficult for me. At every event, in every design, I push myself towards that sense of perfection.”
How does the unrepeatable veining and texture of marble influence your choices? How do you pair decisions about veining, colour, and surface with accompanying materials such as glass, silver, or textiles?
“The fact that each piece is different from the next is a reflection of the endless beauty nature offers us. There are so many materials that can be used with marble and that do justice to this special stone… What matters is being open to new ideas and having the courage to try them.”
How does your storytelling process flow from one event to another? In the chain that runs from brief to theme, from theme to object and ritual, at which stage do Minval pieces step onto the scene?
“In event design, what matters most to me is doing what has not been done before and saying what has not yet been said. It is just as important for each event to have a story as it is for it to be constructed and brought to life with the right kind of logic. I have been doing this work for almost 25 years, and I have had the chance to collaborate with some of the best people in the world in this field. Professionally, that is an extraordinary piece of luck. I learned the methodology of how to translate the creativity and love of beauty inside me into reality from the right people. I design with that accumulation of knowledge and those teachings in mind.
At most of the events we have realised so far, we have used, and continue to use, very high-level products that would not normally be chosen for such occasions. I have often witnessed clients being unable to hide their surprise at the materials we bring in. I would never use anything at an event that I would not use in my own home. Many people find this intriguing. Perhaps the same grey-toned fabric could be supplied in many different, more economical ways. But that does not satisfy me. For me, I come first, the feeling I get when I touch that fabric.
Minval is exactly that kind of product for me. The Minval pieces I use in my own home also appear in the presentations at many of our events. The use of such special objects becomes a very clear clue to the level and character of the invitation.”
“One of the main reasons I feel such affection for it is the importance it places on sustainability and quality. For me, it is incredibly precious that marble carries the traces of a life lived over the years. Seeing the marks of our journey through life translated into an object and being able to use these pieces in many different ways for many years is deeply meaningful.”
In an event design, how do you establish and test the visual rhythm and balance between flowers, food, plates, and objects?
"Flowers and food both play leading roles in my life. I can spend days developing ideas for floral designs. Likewise, I travel the world in pursuit of food. All the details you mention are indispensable to me, because they are at the centre of my life, and the visual balance you refer to emerges quite naturally. With most of the third parties we collaborate with, whether they are responsible for flowers, food, or any other area of production, I can generate a great many ideas that broaden their horizons. But this exchange is almost like a game of ping-pong: the person across the table also has to share your excitement and be on the same wavelength and vision. We devote serious effort to every element of a gathering, from the food to the flowers, and feeling that this is perceived by our guests is an incredible source of happiness."
When you use Minval objects in your events, what do you pay particular attention to? Is there an element or a specific model you would describe as indispensable?
“Honestly, we are able to use all of the collections quite comfortably. The hygienic nature of marble is also a very powerful factor, especially in food presentations. At our events, you might see Minval pieces used to serve canapés, as vessels for floral arrangements, or transformed into candelabras carrying dozens of candles.”
How do you think about the patina and traces of use that marble will acquire over time as part of the design? Where do sustainability, reuse, and longevity sit within this picture?
