Artefact Berlin Gallery showcases Mario Bellini’s complex oeuvre

Post-war, Italy saw a major convergence of design with experimentation, technology and creativity. We are reminiscent of an era when Pucci prints redefined glamour and luxury chairs or creatively structured chaise lounges were elements of luxury. Mario Bellini who grew up in the austerity of this post-war Italy. He conquered the art of making furniture and structures by holding the reins of existing design philosophies and simultaneously considering the extensive inflow of trends from other developing countries. He has always worked to bridge the gap between design, technology and art which is beyond structural inhibitions. His work is an art and his art is in fact, his unique design language. Artefact Berlin Gallery is showcasing a retrospective exhibition on the extensively celebrated works of legendary Italian architect, Mario Bellini. With a playful and elegant approach to design, Bellini’s projects have been a source of inspiration for many across the design world. He wears a hat with multiple feathers when it comes to designing, with products ranging from chic wine glasses to mammoth architectural marvels.

As the second exhibition for the art gallery since its establishment in December 2021, the ‘Aesthetics of Mario Bellini’ dives into the vast ocean of collectables from Bellini’s 60-year long career. Curated by Anna Rosa Thomae, the exhibition will be on display till 20 June 2022. The cultural entrepreneur is a versed art and design collector who believes in nurturing art as a valuable asset. With her exhibition commemorating Bellini, she portrays the multifaceted assemblage as an exemplary synthesis between art, design, and architecture and the gallery’s vision to promote and support the three paths as interconnected disciplines.

Leafing through Bellini's works, one can see a conscious preference for the design that is a recital of clean edges, bold spaces, and a sharp approach. He has always worked toward converging futuristic outlooks as observed in his curved dome teapot, to a romanticised approach that he fantastically depicts in a conceptual sketch for the Ponte Expo 2015.

With the exhibition, Anna portrays a varied assemblage of furniture pieces, glassware, lighting elements and porcelain objects which were conceived by Bellini over his successful career. The AMANTA sofa is one such relic that marked the change in contemporary furniture design with its light tones and curved edges. Bellini designed the sofa as a playful addition to an existing assortment of Bauhaus furniture pieces. Similarly, the Model Area 20- a lamp that Mario Bellini designed for lighting manufacturer Artemide, is another prolific example of elegance matched up with modernism in design. Finished in ivory and placed atop a ceramic base, the table lamp represents a beautiful opening flower.

Mario Bellini has worked in conjunction with many important names like Erco, Vitra, Kettal, Cassina, B&B Italia and Rosenthal among others. Appertaining to his brilliant creative endeavours, he has been awarded eight Golden Compass Awards and also has twenty-five pieces of his assembly held in a permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Cocooned in the Schoneberg district, Germany's architectural heritage, the Artefact Berlin Gallery is Anna's extensive project space for celebrating art in its glories. It was established in December 2021 and is now hosting its second exhibition contextualising the interrelationship of art with design and architecture.