Where and when
PAGES OF ART
Wednesday 4 May at 5.30pm
Francesca Balena Arista, author of the book Poltronova Backstage, in conversation with Michela Arfiero, Dario Bartolini, Roberta Meloni, Cristina Morozzi and Cristiano Toraldo Di Francia.
From the Superarchitettura of Archizoom and Superstudio, to the Superbox of Ettore Sottsass. The Museo Novecento reveals another fundamental chapter in the history that has seen Tuscany become a real protagonist of the experimental design of the sixties and seventies. On the occasion of the new layout of the section of the museum dedicated to Radical Architecture, the presentation of the book Poltronova Backstage allows to deepen the relationship between Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova and the Florentine groups.
The volume, edited by Francesca Balena Arista, narrates a cross-section of the radical years from 1962 to 1972: a unique design story, kept by the Centro Studi Poltronova, made through the photographs taken by the authors themselves to their objects and remembered by the words of Dario Bartolini, Andrea Branzi, Gilberto Corretti, Paolo Deganello, Adolfo Natalini, Cristina Morozzi, Barbara Radice and Cristiano Toraldo Di Francia, with a preface by Michele De Lucchi.
Francesca Balena Arista, architect, is professor at the Politecnico di Milano. Graduated in Florence with Gianni Pettena with a thesis on Poltronova, she moved in 2008 to Milan, where she obtained a PhD in Industrial Design under the guidance of Andrea Branzi. She is the author of numerous essays and books on 20th century architecture.
Michela Arfiero is the editorial director of Fortino Editions and of Web magazine cross-disciplinare www.fruitoftheforest.com.
Dario Bartolini, architect, was part of the Archizoom group. During the years of radical experimentation, he created jewelry, games, machines and sound installations that were reactive to light, and he specialized, together with his wife Lucia Morozzi, in clothing design. In the nineties he embarked on a personal artistic path.
Roberta Meloni is the founder and president of the Centro Studi Poltronova.
Cristina Morozzi has been teaching director of the Istituto Marangoni in Milan since September 2014. Journalist, critic and curator, he has directed magazines and published numerous articles and books working on the cutting edge between art, fashion and design.
Cristiano Toraldo Di Francia, architect, was one of the founders of the Superstudio group. Since 1980 he has continued his professional career, alongside academic teaching. Professor at the School of Architecture and Design of the University of Camerino, he has published numerous volumes on architecture and design.