‘Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design’ is at the Heide Museum of Modern Art in Melbourne from October 26.
The 170 objects in the exhibition span a sixty year period from the first Milan Design Triennale in the 1930s to the Memphis Group of the 1980s.
Drawn from public and private collections and leading design brands, the exhibition includes vintage and re-editioned classic chairs and furniture, lighting, espresso machines, typewriters and more.
Visitors will get a real sense of the era as furniture from the 1960s and 1970s is arranged in living spaces, speaking to the function of each room and reflecting the period in which the former residence was built.
Held across Heide’s Main Galleries and Heide Modern, the exhibition will celebrate key figures in the industry and their enduring contributions. From the early work of architect-designers such as Gio Ponti and Carlo Mollino, through the ingenious and stylish creations of Gae Aulenti, Joe Colombo, and the Castiglioni brothers, to the quirky and provocative Radical Design movement, Memphis Milano, prominent design figures Ettore Sottsass, Nanda Vigo, Gaetano Pesce, and more.
Highlights include Gio Ponti’s ground-breaking Superleggera
“We are delighted to be showcasing so many pieces from one of the most compelling and influential periods of design innovation, and which reflect significant shifts in Italy’s social, cultural and political landscape,” says Kendrah Morgan, Head Curator of Heide Museum of Modern Art.
“The exhibition is the result of extensive research and close collaboration with design experts. The objects have been sourced entirely from within Australia, thanks to the assistance of generous individual collectors and design enthusiasts.”
Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design
26 October 2024 – 23 March 2025
Heide Museum of Modern Art
Melbourne
