on the occasion of
Parma Capitale Italiana della Cultura 2020+21
Abbey of Valserena (until August 29)
Strada Viazza di Paradigna 1, Parma
Palazzo Pigorini (until July 25)
Strada della Repubblica 29/a, Parma
Open to the public on 28 April in Parma, simultaneously in two locations, the Abbey of Valserena and Palazzo Pigorini, the exhibition Design! Objects, processes, experiences curated by Francesca Zanella, produced by CSAC – The Study Centre and Communication Archive of the University of Parma with the support of the Municipality of Parma and Regione Emilia-Romagna on the occasion of Parma Capitale Italiana della Cultura 2020+21, and in collaboration with GIA – Gruppo Imprese Artigiane Parma.
The archives of the CSAC of the University of Parma preserve an immense heritage of knowledge developed by generations of designers who defined the culture of Italian design in the 20th century.
This knowledge allows to tell, through a selection of emblematic projects, the central themes of design.
The exhibition, divided into two sections, traces a path in which the designer – in his many roles as bricoleur, craftsman, anthropologist, philosopher, scientist, technologist – reflects on the themes of design and production, policies of intervention on the territory and cultural heritage, and the different languages and practices within a multicultural society.
The first section shows, inside the Abbey of Valserena, seat of the CSAC Archive-Museum, the projects of Italian designers such as Archizoom Associati, Mario Bellini, Cini Boeri, Achille and Piergiacomo Castiglioni, Enzo Mari, Alessandro Mendini, Roberto Menghi, Bruno Munari, Alberto Rosselli, Roberto Sambonet, Ettore Sottsass jr.
The exhibition is articulated through three key words: object, functional and symbolic dimension of the project but at the same time an instrument of representation of cultures; process, intended as a self-reflexive moment of analysis and definition of the project in the areas of innovation, social commitment, emergencies and the foreshadowing of the future, but also as an interpretation by the designer of the processes of industry or production; experience, or design as a discipline oriented to the study of interactions between people and between them and objects or environments.
The second section at Palazzo Pigorini, entitled Bodies and processes, co-curated by Valentina Rossi, presents, through the same three keywords, the results of the first phase of the project Storie di fili, conducted by CSAC in partnership with the Museum System of the University of Parma, Cooperativa Eidè, Fondazione Museo Glauco Lombardi and with the contribution of Fondazione Cariparma. Three new sculpture dresses by the artist Sissi, conceived through a process of comparison with the heritage of the CSAC (in particular with the figurines of Cinzia Ruggeri, Krizia and Brunetta, present in the exhibition) and made with the companies of the territory Equipage Srl, Maglificio Nuova Ester and Parmamoda Srl, will dialogue with the costumes of Sartoria Farani, also preserved at the CSAC, giving rise to a reflection on the body, the dress and its creative and tailoring process.
Exhibition curated by Francesca Zanella
Produced by CSAC – The Study Centre and Communication Archive of the University of Parma
With the support of the Municipality of Parma and Regione Emilia-Romagna
In collaboration with
GIA – Gruppo Imprese Artigiane Parma
Equipage Srl
Maglificio Nuova Ester
Parmamoda Srl
Centro Studi Poltronova per il Design
Archivio Alessandro Mendini Milano
Muse Factory of Projects
In occasione di Parma Capitale Italiana della Cultura 2020+21
The Storie di fili project is realized with the contribution of
Fondazione Cariparma
In collaboration with
Sistema Museale dell’Università di Parma
Equipage Srl
Maglificio Nuova Ester
Parmamoda Srl
Cooperativa Eidè
Fondazione Museo Glauco Lombardi