From October 11-16, 2024, Luna Laffanour’s downtown+ hosted ‘Italia’, an exhibition at the Hôtel de l’Industrie in Paris. This event celebrated iconic figures of Italian design, such as Ettore Sottsass, Andrea Branzi, and Gaetano Pesce, while featuring works by contemporary artist Nicolas Mehdipour. The exhibit explored the unique intersection of Italian design and contemporary art.
Celebrating Iconic Italian Designers
Italian design has been influential for decades, known for its blend of functionality and avant-garde aesthetics. Designers like Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007) revolutionized the field with his colorful, bold works. Sottsass, best known for founding the Memphis Group in the 1980s, sought to break away from traditional design, creating playful, non-conformist pieces like the Mobile Giallo (1988). His style, characterized by bright colors and geometric forms, continues to influence modern design.
Andrea Branzi (1938-2023), another key figure in Italian design, focused on bridging industrial design with conceptual art. His work, such as the Collez-Animali Domestici chair (1985), blurred the lines between art and functionality. Branzi was a founding member of Archizoom, a radical design collective in the 1960s, and his designs reflected his interest in urban environments and how people interact with objects.
Gaetano Pesce (1939-2024), known for his experimental use of materials, pushed the boundaries of design with his fluid, organic forms. Pesce’s work, like his furniture and architectural designs, often incorporated resin, foam, and other unconventional materials. His pieces are celebrated for their creativity and functionality, capturing the innovative spirit of Italian design.
The Importance of Italian Design in the 20th Century
Italian design emerged as a global force in the post-World War II era, with designers embracing modernist principles while experimenting with materials and forms. The works of designers like Joe Colombo (1930-1971) and Carlo Mollino (1905-1973) embody this spirit. Colombo’s futuristic designs, such as his Tube Chair and space-age furniture, broke the mold of traditional design. Mollino’s architectural work and furniture designs, on the other hand, combined surrealism and organic shapes, making his pieces both practical and visually striking.
Another significant collective in the history of Italian design is Superstudio, founded in 1966. This radical design group believed in creating utopian, modular systems that could shape the future of living spaces. Their Bazaar modular sofa (1968) is a perfect example of their innovative approach, inviting users to reconfigure their spaces in a flexible, dynamic way.
A Contemporary Dialogue: Nicolas Mehdipour’s Art
In this exhibition, contemporary artist Nicolas Mehdipour introduced a fresh perspective. His work combines abstraction and figuration, often reflecting on our relationship with nature and life itself. The juxtaposition of Mehdipour’s art with the iconic designs from Sottsass and others offered a modern reinterpretation of how art and design can coexist.
A Lasting Legacy
The ‘Italia’ exhibition highlighted the importance of Italian design in shaping modern aesthetics. Italian designers of the 20th century revolutionized how we think about space, form, and function. Today, their work continues to inspire contemporary designers and artists, showing that the legacy of Italian creativity is still alive and evolving.
About Luna Laffanour
Luna Laffanour, the visionary behind downtown+, has a rich Franco-Japanese heritage. This unique background influences her perspective on art and design. Born in 1996, Luna is the daughter of Japanese artist Yumiko Seki and gallery owner François Laffanour. Her journey into the art world was shaped by her diverse cultural experiences. She studied at the University of the Arts London and later at the Camondo School of Interior Architecture and Design. Luna graduated in 2020 with a degree in interior architecture.
Since joining her family’s gallery, Laffanour | Galerie Downtown, in 2021, Luna has reinterpreted its modernist legacy. She has also fostered new artistic expressions. In 2023, she launched downtown+, an initiative that blends the gallery’s design collection with contemporary artists’ works. This project creates a dialogue across generations and styles. Luna’s work is a testament to the evolving relationship between traditional design and modern creativity.
For more on her future projects and exhibitions, visit downtown+‘s website.
We’re Heading to Design Miami!
This exhibition coincided with Design Miami Paris, showcasing more contemporary design talent. I plan to cover Design Miami in Miami Beach, which runs from December 3-8, 2024, with a focus on finding the best examples of Italian design. Stay tuned for our coverage of this international design event.
