„50 Years of Living Marble“ at Marmomacc: retrospective on Italian product designers’ ideas with natural stone

Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni’s famous lamp „Arco“ from the 1960ies uses the weight of the stone for the object’s usability. But: how to move its 48 kg? - The designers drilled a hole through the little block to put a broomstick through. Photo: Peter Becker

The far-reaching scope of the exhibit will bring together the works of the „craftsmen generation“ with modern production with robotics and waterjet

„50 Years of Living Marble“ is one of the exhibitions in Hall 1 of this year’s Marmomacc (September 28 – October 01, 2016). It will show examples for Italian product design with natural stone since the 1960ies. It comprises marble objects from the collections and archives of historic design companies as well as examples for new ideas.

Vincenzo Pavan is the curator of the exhibition. It will be set off by a catalogue giving details of half a century of design with stone, a video and o conference.

Angelo Mangiarotti: Bookshelf (1955).

Objects shown come from Angelo Mangiarotti, Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Gae Aulenti, Sergio Asti, Alessandro Mendini, Mario Bellini, Tobia Scarpa, Sottsass Associati, Enzo Mari, Antonia Astori, Michele De Lucchi Karim Rashid, Zaha Hadid, Paolo Ulian, Claudio Silvestrin and Raffaello Galiotto.

Tobia Scarpa: Lamp (1968).

The far-reaching scope of the exhibit will stimulate comparisons between products dating from the „craftsmen generation“ and current design. This will provide an opportunity to reflect on the cultural, technical and commercial events that have accompanied the controversial presence of stone materials in Italian design.

Angelo Mangiarotti: Table (1978).

A special aspect of the show will discuss the possibilities that robotics give to industrial designers striving to produce objects in greater numbers at affordable prices.

Patricia Urquiola: Marblelace-wall (2009).

„50 Years of Living Marble“ is part of the „Italian Stone Theatre“ in Hall 1 implemented by Marmomacc with support of the Ministry for Economic Development (MISE), ICE-Italian Trade Agency and Confindustria Marmomacchine within the scope of the special Made in Italy Promotion Plan valorizing excellence in the Italian natural stone and related technology field.

Loans for the exhibit come from the companies Agape, Citco, Bigelli Marmi, Budri, Cassina, Flos, Lithos Design, Marsotto, Pibamarmi and Robot City.

Marmomacc, Verona, September 28 – October 01, 2016

Pictures: Marmomacc

Zaha Hadid: shelf (2014).Paolo Ulian: Bookshelf (2014). Source: enricoamici

(17.07.2016, USA: 07.17.2016)