Galerie Gastou will present a surrealist-inspired showcase of collectable design at NOMAD Abu Dhabi from the 18th to the 22nd November, bringing together sculptural furniture, lighting and contemporary art under the theme of the Fata Morgana.
Set at Terminal 1 of the Old Abu Dhabi Airport, the presentation takes its inspiration from the optical phenomenon in which distant landscapes appear to float, stretch and transform along the horizon. Named after Morgan le Fay, the enchantress of Arthurian legend, the Fata Morgana has long captured the imagination of artists and writers, offering a compelling metaphor for the relationship between reality and illusion.
For its NOMAD presentation, Galerie Gastou has commissioned a scenography by Joy Herro, using the phenomenon as the starting point for an imagined landscape. The installation brings together works by established and emerging designers, placing historical and contemporary pieces in conversation rather than presenting them as isolated objects.
At the heart of the exhibition is a collection of sculptural works by Irene Cattaneo, whose designs draw on the imagery of an imaginary garden. Her pieces transform botanical forms into unexpected objects, with flowers taking on a luminous, almost fantastical quality. Moving between sculpture, furniture and organic forms, the collection explores the space between the familiar and the surreal.
Among the works on display are Cattaneo’s Lily table lamp, Poison Lumineux and Snowdrop floor lamps, the latter featuring in Herro’s scenographic installation.
The presentation also includes works by Philippe Hiquily, François-Xavier Lalanne, Emmanuel Babled, Jean-Claude Farhi, Emmanuel Jonckers, Béatrice Serre and Omar Chakil. Their contrasting approaches to material, form and function create a wider dialogue between historical design and contemporary practice.
For Galerie Gastou, the Fata Morgana provides more than a visual reference. Its shifting landscapes offer a framework for reconsidering how objects are experienced, encouraging visitors to look beyond their practical purpose and towards their sculptural and imaginative qualities.
The exhibition will be presented at booth G5–6 at NOMAD Abu Dhabi, taking place from the 18th to the 22nd of November 2026 at Terminal 1, Old Abu Dhabi Airport.
