H&G INSIDER

The Cape Town-based art curator and collector on thoughtprovoking furniture and humanist designs for African cities

The well-curated life of Alberto Rodriguez

1. My favourite gallery in the world is... The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, in Venice.

2. If you visit one hotel, it should be… The Chedi Muscat Oman. The minute you step into the foyer you feel tranquil while being overwhelmed by the simplistic design and unique location on the Gulf of Oman. It feels like a contemporary monastery. 3. The one scent I can’t live without is… Aqua di Parma Colonia Essenza. 4. What’s the one book that most inspired you and your taste? Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, for the excitement of being on a journey. 5. The most iconic piece of furniture design is… Maarten De Ceulaer’s ‘Mutation’ sofa. It could be the result of a mutation in cells, or a nuclear reaction. Perhaps it’s a virus that’s grown dramatically out of scale. The ‘Mutation’ pieces make you look at furniture in a different way. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be able to grow our own furniture. 6. I’m currently obsessed with… Ralph Ziman’s Ghosts Ethiopia, a body of work that deals with the international arms trade in Africa. 7. If I could work with anyone it would be… Miuccia Prada. She merges high art and fashion. 8. My ultimate home accessory is… A Swiss Army Knife sculpture made from different woods by Adrian Kohler. 9. My favourite drink is... Inverroche Amber Gin. 10. Tell us about that little place you know... The Irma

Stern Museum is fascinating. It captures the way she lived and feels as though you are stepping into a bygone era. 11. The cookbook every kitchen needs is… Evita’s Kossie Sikelela, with recipes from all over South Africa. Her Reconciliation Bobotie is my favourite. 12. On my coffee table you’ll find… Books, flowers and an Edoardo

Villa sculpture. 13. If I could have a drink with anyone, it would be… Alexander Mcqueen. I want to know what was going through his head during the 2001 Spring/ Summer VOSS collection. 14. Best advice I ever took? No matter how far you’ve gone down the wrong road, turn back. 15. The next big thing in design is… Designers collaborating on projects for communities. A great example is the Dokter and Misses ‘Isabelo Smart Bench’, a solar-powered Wi-fi-enabled public bench that aims to bridge the technological gap in African cities. robertsherwooddesign.com