The Groninger Museum building turns 25 this year. In honour of its chief architect, and one of postmodernisms most distinctive designers, Alessandro Mendini, the museum will mount a major exhibition the famous Italian designer put together and designed shortly before he passed away.
Mondo Mendini – The World of Alessandro Mendini features not only Mendini’s own work but also that of artists with whom he felt a kinship. Encompassing visual arts as well as architecture and design, the show boasts a richly varied selection of more than 200 objects.
More than two years ago, the museum gave Alessandro Mendini (1931–2019) free rein to compile an exhibition of his work. He was enthusiastic about putting together a major exhibition for ‘his’ museum. In Mondo Mendini, Mendini showcases among others his most famous works, including a three-metre-high version of Poltrona di Proust, the kitschy armchair covered with coloured dots (collection Fondation Cartier). Also present is Anna G, the dancer-shaped corkscrew that became a bestseller for Alessi. The exhibition contains a wide selection of works from Mendini’s diverse oeuvre, from jewellery to architectural models, household objects to large sculptures.
Entirely in keeping with his artistic ideas, Mendini chose to showcase not just his own work in the exhibition but also that of great artists and designers of the past and present who inspired him. He always generously acknowledged the influence of others. For Mondo Mendini, he selected, among many more, works by classic modern artists Paul Signac, Wassily Kandinsky, Henri Matisse and Oskar Schlemmer, architectural designs by Theo van Doesburg and Gerrit Rietveld, objects by Italian designers like Gio Ponti, Michele De Lucchi and Gaetano Pesce, and recent paintings by the American artist Peter Halley.
Rejecting hierarchical divisions between architecture, autonomous art and design – between ‘high’ and ‘low’ art – he became one of postmodernism’s most distinctive designers. His designs are often colourful, decorative and surprising in form: imagination takes precedence over functionality. About the rich expressiveness of his oeuvre, Mendini said: “My work is like a novel in which seriousness, pain, comedy and poetry exist side by side. And my objects are the tragicomic characters.”
Mondo Mendini will be on show from 12 October 2019 through 5 May 2020 at the Groninger Museum.
Photographs (In order of appearance)
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Groninger Museum, Groningen. Credit: Erik en Petra Hesmerg 2014
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Alessandro Mendini. Credit: Carlo Lavatori – Alessandro Mendini Archive
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Poltrona di Proust, 1978, collection Groninger Museum. Credit: Marten de Leeuw
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Alessandro Mendini, Lassù, part of the series sculptures in golden brass, 1994-2005, produced by Short Stories. Credit: Riccardo Bianchi
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Alessandro Mendini and Francesco Mendini , Model for Fursys, Chung Ju, Zuid-Korea, 2018, collection Atelier Mendini, Milan / Abet Laminati, Bra. Credit: Roberto Gennari Feslikenian
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Kandissi Sofa, 1980, collection Groninger Museum. Credit: Heinz Aebi
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Anna G., 1994, corkscrew for Alessi. Credit: Alessi – Alessandro Mendini Archive
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Damina Llandrò, 2000, collection Alessandro Mendini, Milan. Credit: Marco Ferrero
