Art Central 2021
Ettore Sottsass, Shiro Kuramata, Valentina Loffredo
19 – 23 May 2021
Art Central, Hall 3FG, Hong Kong Convention and exhibition centre
The encounters between the two creators featured in this project, Shiro Kuramata and Ettore Sottsass, were magical. When Kuramata received a letter from Sottsass asking him to join Memphis, he was so elated that he said, “I got a love letter from Sottsass! “.Sottsass also said in an interview, ” I thought Kuramata was someone special. It was like lovers from Brazil and New Guinea. Have you ever fallen in love? It’s similar to that feeling.” Their interaction began in 1981 with Memphis, a project that had a tremendous impact on the design world. At that time the economies in Europe, North America, and Japan were cooling down after the postwar period of growth, and in the design world doubts were being cast on modern design that in its pursuit of function and rationality had great sway in the 20th century ever since the Bauhaus movement.
Sottsass called on designers all over the world and launched Memphis as a solution to the question. As a new design that transcended modern design, they came up with furniture and lights that possessed eccentric forms and colors that seemed to ignore function. Kuramata and Sottsass kept pursuing their dreams and concept of beauty and explored possibilities in creation while developing their friendship through dialogs in the language of design – Sottsass form the background of western ideology, and Kuramata forms a Japanese sensibility. The creations generated in those exchanges – whether in architecture, the interior of product design awakened our senses, evoked deep emotions, and led us to realize the joy of being alive. Despite the difference in expressive styles, their work conveys the same stance towards pursuing design as “culture” that goes beyond the category of mere “civilization”.The meaning of “design” and “creation”, may change drastically as today’s excessive market economics and materialistic society comes under fire. Shiro Kuramata and Ettore Sottsass are trying to get us to ask, “What is an unconstrained free spirit?” and “What is design in the true sense?”.
SELECTED WORKS
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Valentina Loffredo
Untitled, 2019
Pigment printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper
84 x 64 cm
Limited edition of 8 printsSmall print: 40 x 30 cm
Limited edition of 50 prints -
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Valentina Loffredo
Untitled, 2019
Pigment printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper
84 x 64 cm
Limited edition of 8 printsSmall print: 40 x 30 cm
Limited edition of 50 prints -
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Shiro Kuramata
Kyoto, 1983
Collection: Memphis Milano
End table in terrazzo
Ø60 x H 70 cm -
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Shiro Kuramata
Sally, 1987
Collection: Memphis Milano
End table in metal and glass.
Ø 53, H 75 cm -
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Shiro Kuramata
Nikko, 1982
Collection: Memphis Milano
Drawers on metal structure, in wood and painted finish.
Size: H 170 cm -
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Shiro Kuramata
Imperial, 1981
Collection: Memphis Milano
Cabinet with internal shelf.
Available in silver, black and aubergine.
W 35, D 40, H 150 cm -
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Shiro Kuramata
Ritz, 1981
Writing Desk
Limited edition 20 pieces
W 100, D 80, H 150 cm -
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Ettore Sottsass
Fililla, 1986
Collection: Memphis Milano
Pendants blown glass vase
H 33 cm -
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Ettore Sottsass
Clesitera, 1986
Collection: Memphis Milano
Vase, blown glass with pendant, sign on the base
H 49 cm -
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Ettore Sottsass
Agelada, 1986
Collection: Memphis Milano
Blown glass with pendant. It’s part of the “Vetri Glass” collection,
made in Murano, it’s hard blown with techniques from master glassblowers, signed on the base
H 44 cm -
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Ettore Sottsass
Casablanca, 1981
Collection: Memphis Milano
Sideboard in plastic laminate with internal shelves
W 151, D 39, H 221 cm -
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Ettore Sottsass
Suvretta, 1981
Collection: Memphis Milano
Bookcase in plastic laminate
W 204, D 35, H 200 cm