Memphis is the cheap and cheerful style concocted in Milan and launched on a sofa resembling a boxing ring in 1981 by the Memphis Group.
Memphis is furniture, glass, ceramic, silver, fabric, carpets and lamps.
Although not as practical as the Vespa motor scooter or as classy as an Italian shirt it has its devoted fans.
Memphis collectors include Karl Lagerfeld and the late David Bowie.
There's even a Memphis poem which sums it all up to perfection:
She invades the space
Even if she strangely fits in it
She creates a rumour in your head
A weird sound to your senses
She is still
Colourful
She is a question
She is a plastic movement in the room
Even if she seems dancing around
Invisible branches occupy the air where she breathes
A surprise
A shock
A provocative painting
She has an extremely irreverent glance
She cuts history
Even if she is somehow very familiar
Don't touch her
Look at her
Turn off your own colours
Love her
As a plastic field in the ancient castle
She is Memphis
-- Beatrice Bonzanigo IB Studio Milan
This delightful Exhibition is currently to be seen at Palazzo Franchetti in Venice.
It is like a mixture of many things, Pop Art, Bauhaus, Art Deco etc. I wish I could see the exbibition. Thanks for showing the photographs.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked the photos. It's mostly chipboard covered with plastic but maybe with the current trend for recycling plastic it'll make a little comeback. I'll be keeping my eyes open at flea markets anyway. My favourite is the lamp. It looks like a bird.
DeleteYed, mine too.
DeleteLove exhibitions like this even though I am not keen on the stuff it shows.
ReplyDeleteThat I can understand. I think Bonzanigo's poem sums it up very well.
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