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Having blasted onto the design scene with his first post-graduation exhibition in Australia featuring the instant classic Lockheed Lounge (see pic below), Marc Newson has continued to wow the world's markets with sleek lines and stunning simplicity.

As one of the few designers to have bridged commercial and critical acclaim, Newson has been honored with exhibitions at the world's most highly renowned museums, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, who've added Newson's pieces to their permanent collections. In 2005, "Time" magazine named Newson one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

As per his contemporary rival, Philippe Starck, Newson has been asked to turn his mind to re-imaginations of many of the world's most used objects - the watch, the chair, the table, the car, and the airplane - creating timepieces, Qantas lounges, and jets, with equal mastery. Now, Newson has teamed up with Italy's famed Riva (Ferretti Group)and Officina Italiana Design workshop to produce Aquariva, a scintillating tribute to the highly sought after wooden speedboats of the 1960s.



The 32-foot boat uses Unicoi, a phenolic composite precursor to fiberglass, which is textile-based and more durable than wood. Instead
of stainless steel and chrome brass, Newson chose the lighter anodized aluminum for the boat's handles, holds and hooks.

In another first, the speedboats will be sold through the Gagosian Gallery. In his press statement, the noted gallerist, Larry Gagosian,
stated "The result is a brilliant blend of form and function, looking back to La Dolce Vita of the 1950's and 1960's and forward to the
latest trends in nautical design."

While Gagosian may call upon reminiscences of "La Dolce Vita" to sell the speedboat, Newson's aesthetic marks the boat instantly
collectible. Due for delivery in September 2010 with a price tag of $1.5 million a piece, there is one catch - only twenty-two of the Aquarivas are being made.



Photos (c) Marc Newson