| interview with alessandro mendini, a central figure in avantgarde culture from 'global tools' to 'alchimia'......................................................................... | |||
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alessandro mendini architect, was born in milan in 1931. he was a partner in the nizzoli associati practi until 1970. he was a founding member of the school for individual creativity 'global tools'. alessandro mendini was editor in chief of several Italian magazines of architecture and design : from 1970 to 1976 'casabella', from 1977 to 1981 'modo' and 'domus' from 1979 to 1985. he was a (founder and) partner in the 'alchimia' studio. mendini cultivates a particular interest in neo-modern and contemporary design. he designs objects, furniture, interiors and installations. he collaborates with international companies such as alessi, philips, swarovski and swatch. he is the artistic consultant to various manufacturers - some in the far east - , providing direction for design- and brand identity strategies. besides his architecture and furniture design, mendini has organized a multitude of exhibits and seminars in italy and abroad. he has authored several books on design (paesaggio casalingo, architettura addio, il progetto infelice) and is on the advisory panel of the 'domus academy'. his critiques and essays appear in the chief international trade journals. alessandro mendini is an honorary member of the 'bezalel academy of arts and design' of jerusalem and has been awarded with the italian prize for design and architecture compasso d'oro. he holds an honorary title from the architectural league of new york as well as the title of 'chevalier des arts et des lettres' from the french republic. his work is represented in museums and private collections all over the world. with his brother francesco, he opened the 'atelier mendini' in milan, italy in 1989. within the atelier, he proceeded to take on such projects as a memorial tower for the seaport of hiroshima, japan; the groninger museum in the netherlands; the arosa casino in switzerland and other buildings in europe. www.ateliermendini.it --- the design work of alessandro mendini is part of following manufacturer's collections : www.alessi.com www.cappellini.it www.elam.it www.olivari.it www.swatch.com www.venini.com www.zanotta.it |
 alessandro mendini © designboom  'proust' armchair 1978, now produced by cappellini |
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| --- we met alessandro mendini in his studio in milan the 07.09.2000 --- what is your best moment of the day? when I feel at peace with myself. what kind of music do you listen to at the moment? I listen to music from the orient, china, hong kong. do you listen to the radio? never what books do you have on your bedside table? I don't read at night, I read a lot of books, 15 or 20 at the same time. they are mostly criticism, psychology, new age, and philosophy. do you read design magazines? yes, many. as an expert on publications on design, since you were the editor in chief of 'domus'... how do you judge the current panorama of printed magazines? do you think that internet will take the place of the printed page? magazines serve to give information. today magazines contain a lot of information, but without a soul. they don’t have a message. they simply give information, and I make do with this. printed magazines will survive, I say this because I don’t know how to use internet... even if I like computers. this past summer I took computer and oil painting lessons, just for a balance... internet will certainly be extremely important and bring about a huge revolution. newspapers? where do you get news from? I am a sort of information kleptomaniac. I get it everywhere, from newspapers, books, trips, talking with people, like right now. (laughs) do you notice how women are dressing? do you have any preferences? certainly, and men too. I’m not such a good dresser, but I like well-dressed people, I mean those who can transform through makeup and clothes into themselves. choosing something to wear is like doing a self portrait. what kind of clothes do you avoid wearing? I don’t think I have any prejudices, I dress simply, without preconceived ideas, I wouldn’t wear costumes from the 1700’s.. and I don’t know how to dress up in a costume. do you have any pets? I have a guest who is a cat, he’s not mine but he often comes to visit. we’re friends... where do you work on your designs and projects? I design in my studio, at home, at my country house...but since my designs are based on a theory, on a literary thought, I deal with this aspect in the waiting rooms of airports, for example. who would you like to design something for? I would like to make places of worship for any religion... when you are working, do you discuss or exchange ideas with your colleagues? I talk with my colleagues in my studio a lot, and also with a lot of other designers because the way I work is to involve other designers, both unknown and famous ones. you have always involved a lot of young designers in your work, do you think they have changed in the last 10 years? I’m not objective enough to say. as far as regards my own experience, I’ve always found that 'cutting edge' young people always have given me a lot of stimulus, and I am also a kleptomaniac for what I can get from them. describe your style, like a good friend of yours would describe it. I am on a quest to communicate through my objects and work in general, trying to say things that encourage people to deepen meditation and spirituality. which of your projects has given you the most satisfaction? and which do you like the most? my design is the milky way, the kaleidoscope of the system of all my objects and works, a sort of nebulous that I can’t grasp, this is what gives me the greatest satisfaction. I recall proust’s armchair and the museum for the city of groeningen. is there any architect or designer from past you appreciate a lot? palladio. what about colleagues, are there any particular ones you appreciate? frank gehry, philippe starck and many others. any advice for the young? I’ve never given advice to either the young or the old. on the news they said that italians are afraid of unemployment, criminality and pollution. what are you afraid of regarding the future? I fear the general escalation of violence in the world. the world is really violent.  |
 'soli' objects for 'alchimia', 1990  'lassù', performance 1975  groninger museum, netherlands1989 -1994 'atelier mendini' in collaboration with 'alchimia' invited artists/architects: michele de lucchi, gerd koster, feruccio laviani, phillippe starck, frank stella, coop himmelblau...  busstop, hannover, germany 1994  'dor' vase for venini 1988 |
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the questionaire of marcel proust (1871 - 1922) ................................................................................................................................... (in age of fourteen proust was given an english album "confessions : an album to record thoughts, feelings". seven years later marcel proust published this questionaire) in the literary salons in nineteenth century paris, this parlour game was a popular amusement. for designboom alessandro mendini has answered these 'old fashioned' questions. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... |
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the main traits of my character. willingness. a quality I desire in a man. complexity. a quality I desire in a woman. complexity. what I appreciate most among my friends. niceness. my principal defect. narcissism. my favourite occupation. thinking my dream of felicity. to not think. what would for me be the biggest misfortune. the end of the world. whom I would like to be. a saint the country were I would like to live. where I live. the colour I prefer. pink. the flower I love. the rose. the bird I prefer. the woodpecker. my favourite authors. nietzsche. my favourite poets. tangore. my heroes in fiction. mickey mouse. my heroines in fiction. alice my favourite composers. schubert. my favourite artists. savinio. my heroes in real life. gregory peck.. my heroines in history. queen victoria of england. my favourite names. the names of the apostles what I hate most. violence. the historic characters I dislike most. dictators the military enterprise I like the most. none. the reformation I appreciate the most. buddhism. nature’s gift I would like to have. ubiquity. how I would like to die. in my bed. my soul's present condition. slightly anxious. the faults I can bear. all of them. my motto. uncertainty. ---  ------- monthly designboom newsletter ------- ------- ? comments and contact us ? ------- |
 'anna g.' kitchentools for alessi 1994  'sirfo', small table, for zanotta 1986  'chocolate' calculator for alessi 2000  'calamobio' for zanotta 1985-88  'stelline' chair for elam 1987  'the milky way' glass for ritzenhoff, 1992 |
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