How ettore sottsass brought the poetics of painting into. The group named after bob dylans song stuck inside of mobile with the memphis blues again, the soundtrack of their first meeting was led by ettore sottsass, a major italian designer, and manned by a bunch of younger. Design radical opened last week at the metropolitan museum of arts satellite venue, taking over the brutalist buildings thirdfloor galleries. The son and collaborator of ettore senior, he was trained at the polytechnic in turin. He graduated in architecture at the turin polytechnic in 1939. The memphis group is an italian postmodernist design and architecture movement, born at the beginning of the 1980s. His father ettore sottsass senior was an architect and his mother was austrian. When italian architect ettore sottsass launched the controversial collection of furnishings known as memphis at the milan furniture fair in. Wherever he went, ettore sottsass carried a camera to photograph anything that caught his eye. The homes furnishings are a combination of pieces designed by sottsass and traditional hawaiian koa furniture, as well as coffee and dining tables that adrian had designed. The homes furnishings are a combination of pieces designed by sottsass. But they were all taking cues from one radical italian designer and architect. Tactility and aesthetics are as essential and critical to truly successful design as functionality.
Dec 11, 2015 ettore sottsass was a pivotal figure of the late 20th century italian design scene. Italian architects convert ettore sottsass sketch into pavilion for french architecture festival. He then proceeded to gain formal education in architecture something his father, ettore sottsass sr. He then proceeded to gain formal education in architecture something his father. Stories about ettore sottsass, the pioneering italian architect and designer who founded the influential memphis movement and led studio sottsass associati. After architecture school in milan, sottsass worked at the office of george nelson in new york before returning to italy as a design consultant to the olivetti company. Born in austria in 1917 to an austrian mother and italian father, sottsass spent his youth in fashionable milan.
When this started with ettore in 1989, we corresponded via letters and faxes as there was no email or the internet. Ever the rebel and with a career spanning more than five decades, sottsass. Sottsasss architecture synthesizes years of research and experimentation with the. Sep 29, 2017 100 years of italian cool looks at the recent retrospective of ettore sottsass at the triennale in milan marking the centenary of the designer and architect. Fans of the prolific italian architect and designer ettore sottsass have an extra reason to visit his retrospective at the met breuer. Ettore sottsass gallery, furniture and exhibitions artuner. View a slideshow featuring architecture by ettore sottsass.
In 1991 he was awarded a doctor of letters by the university of geneva, having written his thesis on the work of ettore sottsass. His body of work included furniture, jewellery, glass, lighting, home objects and office machine design, as well as many buildings and interiors. Oct 19, 2011 when this started with ettore in 1989, we corresponded via letters and faxes as there was no email or the internet. The founder of a half dozen design collectivesincluding giuseppe pagano, memphis group and sottsass associati sottsass became known for his asymmetric forms and, perhaps most of all, his flamboyant use of color, often in bold, clashing combinations. He has dedicated himself to various disciplines, such as painting, ceramics, architecture and design internationally known as one of the initiators of renovation in design and architecture, thanks to which the rigid functionalism of the years before and after the second world war has. Contradictions of designerarchitect ettore sottsass. Ettore sottsass designs to be auctioned in paris architect. The past to him was the rationalist doctrine of his father, ettore sottsass sr. Ettore sottsass exhibition canceled after museum and.
Ettore sottsass influence touched the farthest reaches of the design world, inspiring generations of young designers from across many disciplines. After 1950, overcoming the concept of rationalism linked exclusively to function, his research focused on an involvement of psychic spheres, creating objects mostly unique pieces, elaborated with different means and materials and space marked by complex emotional implications. Jul 31, 2017 inaugurated in july at the met breuer in new york, the exhibition ettore sottsass. One of the most influential and important figures of the last century. Ettore sottsass 14 september 1917 31 december 2007 was an italian architect and designer during the 20th century. Sottsass associati, primarily an architectural practice, also designed elaborate stores and showrooms for esprit, identities for alessi, exhibitions, interiors, consumer electronics in japan and furniture of all. On finally being released, he returned to italy in 1947 and began working in milan. Celebrating italian architect ettore sottsass architectural. A seminal figure in 20thcentury design, the italian architect and designer ettore sottsass. Aug 24, 2017 ettore sottsass, lapislazzuli 196872, shown with an architectural vessel from the moche culture of peru, ad 400600 photo by the author for hyperallergic ettore sottsass.
In 1939 he graduated in architecture at the politecnico di torino. Ettore sottsass 19172007 was a grandee of late 20th century italian design. Ettore sottsass devoted his life and work to dismantling the past in his various roles as artist, architect, industrial designer, glass maker, publisher, theoretician and ceramicist. May 06, 2017 when italian architect ettore sottsass launched the controversial collection of furnishings known as memphis at the milan furniture fair in 1981, the design world was shocked. A household name in europe, the italian designer ettore sottsassbest known to americans, if at all, for his fireplugred valentine portable typewriter 1968 for olivetti and.
Sottsass was born on september 14, 1917, in innsbruck, austria, and grew up in. Best known as the founder of the early 1980s memphis collective, he also designed iconic electronic products for olivetti. For the first time in met history, the show, which opens july. Ettore sottsass italian architect and designer 1917 2007. Oct 10, 2018 though ettore sottsass is best known for his founding of the memphis group radical design collective in italy in the 1980s, he began his career as an architect and designer 30 years prior in milan. So much of this sentiment in design is owed to the vanguarding italian architect and designer ettore sottsass. Having graduated from the galileo ferraris high school, he enrolled in the department of architecture at the turin polytechnic, where he graduated in 1939. Ettore sottsass 19172007 was born in innsbruk in 1907. Ettore sottsass, studio alchymia le strutture tremano.
One of the most significant counterforces to modernism in design history, ettore sottsass made monumental artistic contributions to every decade of his working life since starting his practice in the late 1940s. Having graduated from the galileo ferraris high school, he. Visualizza altre idee su arredi colorati, memphis e lampade. The acme house in maui by ettore sottsass design milk.
Ettore sottsass, architect and industrial designer, was born in the city of innsbruck in 1917 and has been one of the most influential and important figures of the 20th century design scene. An ettore sottsass exhibition was presented at the met breuer in new york last year. Ettore sottsass and designing for destiny azure magazine. Bursting with bright colors, bold patterns, and layered textures, these immersive environments were the work of italian architect ettore sottsass, a frequent esprit collaborator and founder of the memphis design group. Sottsass was a radical, someone who broke all the rules and offered alternatives. Design radical, curated by christian larsen, borrows the word radical from 1960s and 1970s avantgarde art the radical architects and expands the meaning to include the italian designers entire practice. He has dedicated himself to various disciplines, such as painting, ceramics, architecture and design internationally known as one of the initiators of renovation in design and architecture. This exhibition shines a light on the work of iconic italian architect ettore sottsass, who would have been one hundred years old today.
Oct 06, 2017 the late ettore sottsass, who in the 1980s joined the popculture firmament as the founder of the memphis design group, once quipped that being the subject of a retrospective was a bit macabre. Radice, qualified as sottsasss longtime companion and an experienced writer about architecture and design jewelry by architects, rizzoli, 1987, here provides unique insights. Colors and forms are evocative, sensory triggers for nostalgia and emotion, interacting intimately with our cultural. Ettore sottsass, who worked with knoll on three collections between 1983 and 1988, wanted to be everything that modernism wasnt. Met breuer exhibition contextualises ettore sottsass. Best known as the founder of the early 1980s memphis collective, he also designed iconic products for olivetti, as well as beautiful glass and ceramics. Ettore sottsass with his memphis carlton bookshelf. Ettore sottsass italian industrial designer britannica. Nice chaps, but naughty enough not to get taken in by ali the old chat about how complicated things are. Aug 03, 2015 ettore sottsass carlton bookcase was the defining product of the 1980s memphis group, typified by bright coloured laminates and playful forms. Bursting with bright colors, bold patterns, and layered textures, these immersive environments were the work of italian architect ettore sottsass. It includes ceramics, jewellery, works in glass and silver, lighting, furniture, office machines and buildings which inspired generations of architects and designers. From tile patterns to ceramic sculptures, youll like, and probably recognize, what you see. Choose from 51 authentic ettore sottsass serveware, ceramics, silver and glass for sale on 1stdibs.
What you need to know about design icon ettore sottsass. In 1939 he graduated in architecture at the politecnico di torino one of the most influential and important figures of the last century, architect and designer, he has participated in all radical movements whether created from the 70s and 80s. For 21 years, the owners have kept their maui home exactly as it was imagined by its architect, ettore sottsass. Sottsass graduated 1939 in architecture from the turin italy polytechnic, and after his world war ii military service, he settled in milan, where he was commissioned to design furniture for postwar public. Ettore sottsass italian architect and designer 1917 2007 italian architect and designer is today best known as the founder in the early 1980s of memphis ettore sottsass devoted his life and work to dismantling the past in his various roles as artist, architect, industrial designer, glass maker, publisher, theoretician and ceramicist. Sottsass s architecture synthesizes years of research and experimentation with. A glimpse into the visionary brain of design hero ettore sottsass. Ettore sottsass, italian industrial designer born sept. The italian legend and figurehead of memphis, ettore sottsass is featured prominently among the giants of design in vitras current exhibition home stories. Although sottsass was trained as an architect, buildings are not where he made his biggest mark.
Esprit was known not only for their athleticinspired clothes and iconic logo, but also for their distinctive store designs. Ettore sottsass serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 51. The italian designer was the driving force behind the memphis group, a. Design radical, on view at the met breuer from july 21 through october 8, 2017 featuring christian larsen, associate curator, modern decorative arts and design, the met. Oct 03, 2017 the met breuers exhibition on ettore sottsass closes this sunday. A critical biography, rizzoli international publications 69 copy quote my furniture is an exercise in architecture or architectural mood. Sottsasss innovative approach to architectural, furniture, ceramic, jewelry, and industrial design has been extensively documented in recent books and periodicals. The work of ettore sottsass and associates herbert muschamp, a. Curated by barbara radice, the exhibition there is a planet, on show at the triennale di milano, marks the centenary of the birth of ettore sottsass. Contradictions of designerarchitect ettore sottsass famed for a typewriter but also a maker of furniture, jewelry, textiles and ceramics. Ettore sottsass architect, artist and designer upgroup. An italian architect and designer known for his large oeuvre including furniture, jewelry, glass, lighting, and office design, ettore sottsass was also the founder in the early 1980s of the memphis group. The founder of a half dozen design collectivesincluding giuseppe.
Radical design is at the met breuer museum in new york from the 21 st july until the 8 th october 2017. Sottsass designed metalware, glassware and furniture for the memphis group until 1985 and eventually disbanded the group in 1988. Italy has no shortage of design legends, but one in particular has been hogging the spotlight recently. Architect and designer the first significant study of the work of sottsass for over a decade emphasizes the continuing diversity and innovation of his professional life while illuminating. Design radical, opening july 21, will reevaluate sottsasss career in a presentation of his key works in a range of mediaincluding architectural drawings, interiors, furniture, machines, ceramics, glass, jewelry, textiles and pattern, painting, and photography. Exposed to the world of architecture since a young age, as his father himself was an architect. Early on the seeds of the craft were planted in the young sottsass, who would watch his father work with fascination. Met breuer exhibit introduces an ettore sottsass youve. A planned show at the stedelijk, amsterdams leading museum of contemporary art and design, has now. The radical designs of ettore sottsass architectural record. In 1929, the family moved to turin, italy, where sottsass sr. Ettore sottsass architect designer 1917 2007 ettore sottsas was born in innsbruck on 14 september 1917. Ettore sottsass, italian, 19172007 produced by poltronova califfo settee, 1967 stained beech measures.
A last chance to celebrate ettore sottsass, the design. Sottsass was born in innsbruck, austria, and grew up in turin, where his father, also named ettore sottsass, was an architect. How ettore sottsass brought the poetics of painting into design and. Sottsass shortlived collective, memphis, was made up of about two dozen italian creatives.
Design radical july 21october 8, 2017 the met, nyc a seminal figure in 20thcentury design, the italian architect and designer ettore sottsass 19172007 created a vast body of work, the result of an exceptionally productive career that spanned more than six decades. Having graduated from the galileo ferraris high school, he enrolled in the department of architecture. Inaugurated in july at the met breuer in new york, the exhibition ettore sottsass. Sottsass was the oldest member of the memphis group a design collective, formed in milan in 1980, whose irreverent, spirited members included alessandro mendini. An architect, industrial designer, philosopher and provocateur, ettore sottsass led a revolution in the aesthetics and technology of modern design in the late 20th century. These days, it seems that most mainstream design concepts follow the rule of human intuitiongood design is something that engages our senses and can make us feel a certain way. Catalogo della mostra milano, 15 settembre 201711 marzo 2018. More recently, sottsass has inspired exhibitions at new york galleries friedman benda in 2015 and the met breuer last year. Barbara radice, widow of prolific designer ettore sottsass, has responded to the stedelijk museums decision to cancel its upcoming exhibition of her late husbands work and indicated that. As well as cofounding the interior design company sottsass associati with fellow memphis members, sottsass undertook several architectural projects in america, japan, austria, america and italy. The elder sottsass belonged to the modernist architecture group movimento italiano per larchitectura razionale miar, which was led by giuseppe pagano the younger sottsass was educated at the politecnico di torino in turin and graduated in 1939 with a. In 1939 he graduated in architecture at the politecnico di torinoone of the most influential and important figures of. Ettore sottsass was proficient in many different fields of artistry, from sculpture, architecture, ceramics and glass works to painting and drawing. Our printing service continues to operate as usual, with framed and unframed prints available for delivery in normal timescales.
1335 265 153 1144 866 442 517 851 818 1503 670 989 1352 584 792 131 653 868 481 84 992 1211 512 386 1475 1505 984 67 96 1039 108 438 679 1423 1020 230 944 464 1407 1325 1468 1114