‘New Poetic Activism’ by Mario Trimarchi unveils the essence of Italian design

Akin to how a poet meticulously chooses words to arouse feelings and conjure up vivid images, Italian design often incorporates poetic allusions to give its creations a feeling of refinement, romance, and everlasting elegance. Italian designers often use symbolism and metaphoric elements in their works to tell stories and evoke emotions through form, colour, and texture. Inspired by the implementation of poetic connotations in product and furniture design, the New Poetic Activism exhibition curated by Mario Trimarchi and on showcase from February 29 to April 7, 2024, is an invitation to a group of 17 Italian designers to design an inevitable object with a strong poetic connotation.

“This tireless poetic activism has always sought means of expression that go beyond function. The objects on display represent the richness of this design attitude: some reveal themselves instinctively, others appear through a haze, others are inside a rainbow, some are very silent while others are so full of meanings that every time you look at them you get lost in the unpredictable,” shares Trimarchi in an official statement. Historically, design in Italy has not only been a profession at the service of the manufacturing system but also a critical voice when looking at design.

The designers featured in the exhibition are Andrea Anastasio, Federica Biasi, Francesco Binfaré, Andrea Branzi, Maddalena Casadei, Lorenzo Damiani, Michele De Lucchi, Francesco Faccin, Formafantasma, Marta Laudani, Giovanni Levanti, Francesco Librizzi, Raffaella Mangiarotti, Francesco Meda, Elena Salmistraro, Valerio Sommella, and Paolo Ulian.

The layout of the exhibit consists of suspended panels that, when lit from behind, resemble extremely fine architectural barriers and provide each object with a modest place of reflection. Additionally, each panel has a caption for each unique object. A semicircular LED strip covered in dry leaves surrounds the objects, which are set on the floor. This arrangement invites thoughtful consideration of the interactions between objects and houses and between people and things. To investigate the meaning of these new poetic objects, which seem to be perhaps few in number, eternal, and perhaps inevitable, in terms of that segment of the world which already has everything and which questions the ethical responsibilities connected to the multiplication of products.

The exhibition aims to pinpoint possible situations and paths where the poetic activism of Italian design can unexpectedly redesign our way of living in the near future, hypotheses of which is contained in a volume, published by ADI Design Museum which testify to the shared intuition of this diverse group of today’s designers. According to ADI president Luciano Galimberti, “Industrial design has always worked to combine constructive rationality and sensation, function and beauty. This exhibition aims to explore the path that has opened up in relatively recent years which leads to the poetic vocation of many leading Italian designers: there is a specific need that has always been present - the direct appeal to the user's sensitivity which generates objects that more than ever before, are both life companions and a source of ideas, but which go beyond function.”

Visitors are encouraged to reflect on the significant influence of poetic connotations in Italian design as they immerse themselves in the captivating world of the New Poetic Activism exhibition. They are also invited to marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship and innovative design of the featured objects. Through this exploration, the exhibition not only showcases the ingenuity and creativity of contemporary design but also prompts a deeper reflection on the evolving role of design in our lives. The exhibition offers views into a future where beauty, emotion, and innovation meet to shape our collective imagination, essentially serving as a tribute to the fascination of Italian design and its capacity to transcend basic practicality.