Ettore Sottsass - Enamels, Vitra Design Museum

Exhibition view of the ’Ettore Sottsass - Enamels’ at the Vitra Design Museum Gallery. Courtesy: Vitra Design Museum 2011; Photography: Bettina Matthiessen

(Image credit: Bettina Matthiessen)

August is always a bit of tranquil month compared to the event-filled design happenings of April or September, so if you haven't already taken advantage of the calm before the ensuing fashion and design weeks, there is still time to catch a glimpse of a relatively unknown body of works in enamel by Ettore Sottsass, stationed in the new

Vitra Design Museum Gallery space in Weil am Rhein.

An additional exhibition space to the 1989 Frank Gehry-designed Vitra Design Museum, the new gallery will run small exhibitions dealing on contemporary or experimental topics. 'Enamels' was chosen to mark the opening partly because of its appeal as a somewhat niche module in Sottsass's oeuvre, and also because it acts as a clever accompaniment to the museum's current exhibition - 'Zoom. Italian Design and the Photography of Aldo and Marirosa Ballo'.

Sottsass initially created the enamel objects for the opening of Milan's Il Sestante gallery in 1958, where they were shown alongside the works of artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. He chose to work with traditional materials like enamel in the late 1950s, and his designs for the exhibition make up a relatively sizeable collection of around 25 plates and 37 vases. Curated by Fulvio and Napoleone Ferrari, the current exhibition also displays 37 related drawings.

Of course, it is argued that the enamel works may not be the designer’s most career-defining pieces. Nevertheless, they point to a seminal part of the designer’s period of intensive creativity in the late 1950s, and there is no doubt the elementary characteristics of Sottsass’s creative approach are present and correct in the colourful cross-material techniques - seen in the high-contrast tones and archetypal shapes of the enamelled copper tondos and vases on display.

Exterior view Vitra Design Museum Gallery

Courtesy: Vitra Design Museum 2011; Photography: Bettina Matthiessen

An extension to the 1989 Frank Gehry-designed Vitra Design Museum, the new gallery will run small exhibitions dealing on contemporary or experimental topics

Courtesy: Vitra Design Museum 2011; Photography: Bettina Matthiessen

Green stand with beige stripe and art sculptures in the middle — Sottsass initially created the pieces for the opening of Milan's Il Sestante gallery in 1958, which were were subsequently shown together with the works of artist Arnaldo Pomodoro

Courtesy: Vitra Design Museum 2011; Photography: Bettina Matthiessen

White stand with art sculptures in circle shelves — On show are Sottsass's enamel works comprising of around 25 plates and 37 vases, complemented by 37 related drawings

Courtesy: Vitra Design Museum 2011; Photography: Bettina Matthiessen

Enamelled copper vases on a wooden base

Courtesy: Museo Casa Mollino

Black and white patterned enamelled copper tondo — Enamelled copper tondo

Photography: Enzo Isaia

White and red enamelled copper tondo — Enamelled copper tondo

Photography: Enzo Isaia

Enamelled copper vases

Photography: Enzo Isaia

Poster for the enamels exhibition by Ettore Sottsass and Arnaldo Pomodoro

Courtesy: Museo Casa Mollino

India ink and pastel drawing on paper by Ettore Sottsass

Courtesy: Museo Casa Milano

First catalogue of Il Sestante gallery, Milan 1959

Courtesy: Museo Casa Mollino

Photograph with Sottsass notes, 1959

Courtesy: Museo Casa Mollino

Pastel on blueprint by Ettore Sottsass

Courtesy: Museo Casa Mollino

Ettore Sottsass with his floor lamp 'Treetops' for Memphis, 1981

Courtesy: Aldo Ballo + Marirosa Toscani Ballo, Milano 1981Ettore Sottsass with his floor lamp ’Treetops’ for Memphis, 1981

Red and black portable typewriter — Portable typewriter 'Valentine', 1969 for Olivetti

Courtesy: Aldo Ballo + Marirosa Toscani Ballo, Milano, 1972

ADDRESS

Vitra Design Museum
Charles Eames Str. 1
79576 Weil am Rhein
Germany

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