IT IS: Tradition, Invention, Sharing, Responsibility

Curated by Barbara Brondi & Marco Rainò, with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute in Cologne, IT IS: is an exhibition oriented towards the presentation of the thinking and work of some of the most qualified and interesting experimental designers on the contemporary Italian scene: Faberhama, Formafantasma, Roberto Sironi and Studio Ossidiana. Marked by distinctive practices of exploration and stylistic expression, the works of the designers reveal a shared programmatic intent: to trigger a wider ranging debate on the urgent issues of the contemporary world. The idea of comparison and interaction between individual works offers an opportunity to take stock of the talent of a generation of designers, while suggesting a thesis: that their practices, in the absolute originality and autonomy of each proposal, can be linked back to a cultural matrix – that of Italy – that embodies certain forcefully specific characteristics.

utilizing an intriguing display device, the set-up features a dense sequence of photographic images reproduced in an entirely unexpected way. To supplement and complete the visual materials in the show, IT Is: provides an in-depth examination of the thinking of the individual designers in relation to several key concepts – tradition, invention, sharing and responsibility – that determine their personal geography of intentions in design practice. The contents can be explored through an original formula, a hybrid of analogue and digital contributions that combines the physical visit with the surprise of an immaterial audio-visual experience: the observation of the images on display is accompanied by the interactive possibility of listening to the words of the single designers, who for the occasion have provided their own personal reflections and statements on the themes.

An event promoted and hosted by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura of Cologne

In collaboration with IN Residence

With the technical partnership of Quadrilatero

In the context of: Italian Design Day 2022: “Ri-Generazione. Design e nuove tecnologie per un futuro sostenibile”

Curated by Barbara Brondi & Marco Rainò, with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute in Cologne, IT IS: is an exhibition oriented towards the presentation of the thinking and work of some of the most qualified and interesting experimental designers on the contemporary Italian scene: Faberhama, Formafantasma, Roberto Sironi and Studio Ossidiana. Marked by distinctive practices of exploration and stylistic expression, the works of the designers reveal a shared programmatic intent: to trigger a wider ranging debate on the urgent issues of the contemporary world. The idea of comparison and interaction between individual works offers an opportunity to take stock of the talent of a generation of designers, while suggesting a thesis: that their practices, in the absolute originality and autonomy of each proposal, can be linked back to a cultural matrix – that of Italy – that embodies certain forcefully specific characteristics.

utilizing an intriguing display device, the set-up features a dense sequence of photographic images reproduced in an entirely unexpected way. To supplement and complete the visual materials in the show, IT Is: provides an in-depth examination of the thinking of the individual designers in relation to several key concepts – tradition, invention, sharing and responsibility – that determine their personal geography of intentions in design practice. The contents can be explored through an original formula, a hybrid of analogue and digital contributions that combines the physical visit with the surprise of an immaterial audio-visual experience: the observation of the images on display is accompanied by the interactive possibility of listening to the words of the single designers, who for the occasion have provided their own personal reflections and statements on the themes.

An event promoted and hosted by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura of Cologne

In collaboration with IN Residence

With the technical partnership of Quadrilatero

In the context of: Italian Design Day 2022: “Ri-Generazione. Design e nuove tecnologie per un futuro sostenibile”

PlaceCologne
ClientIstituto Italiano di Cultura of Cologne
Year2022