The words Italy and Milan are like magic passwords in the worlds of design and fashion, globally. But it is rarely that Indians get to get up close with some of the best right here in India.
Now Indians have a chance in an exhibition, 100 Objects of Italian design, curated by the Triennale Design Museum, Milano. La Triennale di Milano, as it is called showcases modern decorative and industrial arts, with the aim of stimulating relations among the industry, production sectors and applied arts. The idea is to enhance the innovative and unique role played by Italy in the birth and development of design, according to museum director Silvana Annicchairico. The exhibition is on at Delhi?s Lalit Kala Academi in October, and then travels to Mumbai?s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in November, then to Bangalore?s CII NID Design Summit in December and finally to Ahmedabad, where it will be on show at the CII Campus in January next year.
The exhibition, which has a 100 products which have shaped modern life, showcases the years 1945-2005. The earliest items, chronologically speaking, are already relics, eg the Lexikon 80 typewriter designed by Marcello Nizzoli and produced by Olivetti in 1945. The red one on show is sure to bring back memories, and the stray thought ? what did I do to my Olivetti? Sofas, lamps, kettles, scooters, planters, bags, chairs, bean bags, cutlery, coffee makers, furniture ? the range is impressive and sure to engage just about anyone. The design aficionados can be identified with their ?oohs? and ?aahs? pierced by enraptured tugging and pulling as another landmark is spotted. Interestingly besides the object name, designer and the company that manufactured it, each object has a name too. So look out for Nobody?s Chair, or Donald, inspired by the famed comic amphibian.
Incidentally, the links between India and Italy in the design have been growing of late. ?Italian designs have always been influenced by the Indian sense of colour and jewellery, and increasingly Indian students are going to study design at top Italian institutes,? says Patricia Raveggi, director, Italian Cultural Institute.