triennale design museum 2010

a giant david sculpture
image © designboom

answering the question 'what is italian design?', the triennale design museum presents
a new interpretation with  the 3rd edition of annually changing design exhibitions.
entitled 'quali cose siamo' (things in us), the show has been curated by alessandro mendini
(in collaboration with beatrice felis, elisa mendini) and runs from march 27, 2010 to february 27, 2011.


miniature models of 'seggiolina' chairs by ettore sottsass, designed during his memphis period,  miniature produced by vitra
image © designboom


pierre charpin, the exhibition designer (in collaboration with julie pfligersdorffer,
veronica wildgruber, joachim irou najou), succeeded in placing more than 700 objects on top
of eight large platforms. these objects they range from architecture models, design products,
craft pieces, art works, fashion garments, photography, to souvenirs and just things.

the impression is a general randomness of a flea market setting. puzzle that is never completed.
there is no logic if not the logic of alchimia designer and editor-in-chief of domus magazine alessandro mendini.



an army of chairs, cork screws and saints
image © designboom

image © designboom


image © designboom


pasta by car-designer giorgetto giugiaro
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tool to extrude the pasta by giorgetto giugiaro
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a view into the exhibition
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'2 piedi in 1 scarpa' (2 feet in 1 shoe) sculpture, by franco raggi 1975
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franco raggi and ettore sottsass in '2 piedi in 1 scarpa' (2 feet in 1 shoe) sculpture
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a view into the exhibition, replica of a sculpture by artist umberto boccioni 'unique forms of continuity in space', 1913
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'scarpe banali' (banal shoes) by franco raggi
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a view into the exhibition
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'incia group' by roberta mora, 1995
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a view into the exhibition
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'sculture in ceramica' ceramic scupltures by mattia bosco, 2010
'my table' glasses by antonio citterio, 2005, 'conversazione' bowl by enzo mari, 2000
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'sculture in ceramica' ceramic scupltures by mattia bosco, 2010
'my table' glasses by antonio citterio, 2005, 'conversazione' bowl by enzo mari, 2000
image © designboom



'autocostruzione' by enzo mari, 1973
proposal for self-designing and building furniture
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'autocostruzione' by enzo mari
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E.T. by carlo rambaldi, 1982
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'ape calessino' by marco lambri, limited edition of 999 copies, 2007
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giant replica of shoe by salvatore ferragamo
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the triennale design museum in milan tells and portrays the history of italian design
from different perspectives, through different stories, interpretations, approaches.
for its a permanent exhibition space, the triennale design museum started to question why
an institution of such importance should limit itself to a simple and passive management
of its resources (that is, an aesthetically line up of history’s design icons, a simple rotation
of its design pieces). it could easily become a place for the shallow repetition of projects
which have only recently gained new status within forms of mainstream trendiness.
the museum of aims at being more innovative.
usually one goes to a museum just once or twice. the purpose/  the challenge presented is
to have visitors come back twice a year. hence the idea of a museum that should not be static,
but a dynamic, able to renew itself constantly.

the first exhibition in 2007 was entitled 'italian design’s seven obsessions'.
100 italian design objects set against films, created by film maker peter greenaway (exhibition design
by architect italo rota). the second installation in 2009 was called 'serie fuori serie' and showed products
manufactured in series and one-off pieces, curated by andrea branzi (exhibition design by architect and
design office antonio citterio and partners). the museum is directed by silvana annicchiarico, who has been
the curator of the permanent collection of italian design of the triennale for nine years.
she is co-curator of all 3 shows.


curator alessandro mendini
portrait © designboom



the triennale design museum has been a milan institution for 90 years and recently
created a korean outpost. the museum is now opening a space in manhattan,
in the venue that formerly housed 'the museum of arts & design' in new york
(40 W 53rd  / across the street from MoMA). the new museum is slated to open
in may 2010, just in time for the ICFF international contemporary furniture fair.