Mendini

Alessandro Mendini (Milan, 1931) is one of the few protagonists of the international scene of architecture, art and design who designed in every possible size. Walter Gropius’s renowned statement identifies the architect’s field “from spoon to city”: during his career Mendini faced projects “from the infinitesimal to the infinite”. \n\nThe book dedicated to Alessandro Mendini published by Corraini is a non-stop stream of images and occasions among the renowned Milanese architect’s works and philosophy. \nDesigning horizons, rooms, bodies and thoughts are the four moments of a personal and evocative course through Mendini’s works: from urban landscape to interior furnishing, to body accessories, to his activity as architecture and design theorist, Mendini is a protagonist of a personal and aesthetic approach to the project. His design is famous for its emotional and individual character, as well as for the greater importance given to psychological and sensory influences rather than rational contents. In fact, his projects have often been associated with definitions such as “visual poetry”, “fairy and baroque design”, and “labyrinth expansion of spaces and sensations”. \nIn this book, the images are accompanied by texts by Beppe Finessi (architect, professor at the Design and Architecture Faculty of the Politecnico University in Milan) and Alessandro Mendini himself, in which he describes his very experience of designing. A short biography and bibliography about Mendini complete the book. \nBookdesign is curated by Italo Lupi (formerly art-director at Domus and director of Abitare, awarded the Compasso d’Oro and Royal Designer in London): the small dimensions, the cloth coated cover and the clear and brilliant layout make this book a sort of evocative and precious compendium of Mendini’s works. \n\nThe exhibition “Alessandro Mendini dall’infinitesimo all’infinito”, promoted by the City of Rome, Assessorato alle Politiche Culturali e della Comunicazione, Sovraintendenza ai Beni Culturali and Zètema Progetto Cultura, is on display at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome from April 9th to September 6th 2009. The exhibition is curated by Beppe Finessi, interior design by Marco Ferreri and visual layout by Italo Lupi.