New horizons: ceramic brand Mutina champions its inaugural art project
Ceramic tiles specialist Mutina makes its first foray into art with an ambitious new project titled ‘MUT’, unveiled at the brand's Angelo Mangiarotti-designed headquarters.
The MUT initiative also includes an annual art prize, titled ‘This is not a Prize’ (presented last year), and ‘Dialogue’, an ongoing programme of collaborations with artists, galleries and international institutions. The project will be spearheaded by art curator Sarah Cosulich, whose impressive portfolio includes work for the Francesco Bonami-curated Venice Biennale and directing Turin’s annual Artissima fair.
MUT (short for Mutina but also the German word for ‘courage’) is an exhibition space that celebrates the company’s history and the people who made it possible, while also presenting a new model of approaching art. Works will be shown in conversation with Mangiarotti’s 1970s building, a shell of concrete and glass that will play host to solo exhibitions as well as thematic shows with younger artists presented alongside established names in the field.
The first exhibition, ‘Think of this as a Window’, features works by Cerith Wyn Evans (whose neon piece inspired the exhibition title), Fischli/Weiss, Ettore Spalletti and Hiroshi Sugimoto, exploring a path across space and time, a collection developed through portraits, processes and landscapes. ‘[The window] metaphorically represents what art does,’ says Cosulich. ‘It does not simply create images, but images capable of opening up new realities, beyond what is close to us, what is known or familiar. To become a window, art requires an observer.’
With MUT, the main objective of the company is to open itself to new influences; to pass on Mutina’s ongoing commitment to the arts; and offer a new creative vision both for its team and for visitors. ‘This is not a Prize’ will also see the brand accompany an artist for a year, in support of a future project. In 2016, Mutina worked with Giorgio Andreotta Calò to support his work at the Venice Biennale; while this year the (non-)award went to photographer Jochen Lempert, who will begin a collaboration with the company to for a new project to be unveiled in 2018.
INFORMATION
For more information, visit Mutina’s website
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
ADDRESS
MUT at Mutina
Via Ghiarola Nuova 16
41042 Fiorano (MO)
Italy
Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.
-
DAB 1α electric motorbike is the first product from French manufacturer DAB Motors
The DAB 1α is an all-electric motorbike born out of industrial design, gaming culture and aviation technology, and now available to order
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The 2024 Ivor Novello nominations for songwriting have been revealed
77 British and Irish songwriters and composers make up this year's nominees, announced tonight at London's Groucho Club
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Why Bollinger’s La Grande Année 2015 champagne is worth celebrating
Champagne Bollinger unveils La Grande Année 2015 and La Grande Année Rosé 2015, two outstanding cuvées from an exceptional year in wine-making
By Melina Keays Published
-
Triennale Milano exhibition spotlights contemporary Italian art
The latest Triennale Milano exhibition, ‘Italian Painting Today’, is a showcase of artworks from the last three years
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Walls, Windows and Blood: Catherine Opie in Naples
Catherine Opie's new exhibition ‘Walls, Windows and Blood’ is now on view at Thomas Dane Gallery, Naples
By Amah-Rose Abrams Published
-
Hiroshi Sugimoto reflects on time and truth ahead of his London retrospective
As ‘Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Machine’ opens at Hayward Gallery, the artist tells us of his guiding force, and why his Seascapes always end up in the bedroom
By Danielle Demetriou Published
-
Venice Biennale 2022 closing review: who, how and what on earth?
As the sun sets on the 59th Venice Art Biennale (until 27 November), we look back on an edition filled with resilience, female power and unsurprisingly, lots of surprises
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith Published
-
Bruce Nauman’s Venice mega-show is a full body experience
Focusing on the American artist's performative 'Contrapposto Studies', Bruce Nauman's show at Punta della Dogana, Venice, gives new meaning to body language – on view until 27 November 2022
By Laura May Todd Published
-
Ai Weiwei unveils first-ever exhibition of glass sculptures in Venice
On the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Ai Weiwei unveils his first show of glass works, including one of the largest Murano glass sculptures ever
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith Last updated
-
Flower power: Porsche’s immersive installation blooms at Milan Design Week
For ‘The Art of Dreams’, Porsche explores nature and technology with an immersive installation by botanical artist Ruby Barber of Studio Mary Lennox
By Simon Mills Last updated
-
Stanley Whitney’s Italian paintings reveal an art practice in transition
American abstract painter Stanley Whitney’s works from the 1990s to mid-2000s, made in Italy and now on display as a collateral event of the Venice Biennale 2022, show an evolution of form and colour
By Amah-Rose Abrams Last updated