formafantasma: colony for gallery libby sellers

‘colony – asmara’ by formafantasma for gallery libby sellers photo by luisa zanzani all images courtesy of gallery libby sellers

‘colony’ is a new textiles series by italian-born eindhoven-based designers simone farresin and andrea trimarchi of formafantasma. commissioned by and exclusive to gallery libby sellers, in collaboration with the audax textielmuseum, in tilburg, the new body of work continues the duo’s investigation of geo-politcial (and pertinent) issues of immigration, assimilation and the historical cross-flow of cultural currents between north africa and italy.

the series of mohair and mixed media blankets are meant to celebrate the narrative potential of the textile medium. each akin to over-sized postcards, the large textiles refer to major colonies (libya, eritrea, ethiopia) that italy held until the mid 1940s. they depict images of futurist architectural landmarks and cartographies of migration flows, juxtaposed with iconic symbols and historical text which include the now threatened 2009 italy-libya friendship treaty.

‘colony’ offers a prescient account of the impact of italian imperialism on the urban infrastructure of these former colonies and the complex relationship that these countries now have with italy. it is similar in vain to the studio’s previous project, ‘moulding tradition’ whereby the data obtained is applied as both physical material, in which they layer their blanket designs, as well as a theoretical compass which charts changing production techniques, artistic heritage and the notion of tradition in a globalized context. 

‘colony’ alongside ‘moulding tradition’ are on show at gallery libby sellers during london design week 2011.

detail photo by luisa zanzani

detail photo by luisa zanzani

installation view of ‘colony’ and ‘moulding tradition’ at gallery libby sellers photo by ed reeve

‘moulding tradition’ photo by luisa zanzani see designboom’s previous article on this project here