Exhibitions

Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design showcases some of the most significant achievements in the history of twentieth-century Italian design spanning the sixty year period from the first Milan Design Triennale in the 1930s to the Memphis Group of the 1980s. The exhibition tells the remarkable story of how, through the marriage of Italy’s rich craft tradition, technological and industrial advances and a capacity for creativity, experimentation and invention, Italian design became admired throughout the world. Drawn from public and private collections across Australia, the objects in the exhibition include classic chairs, lamps, homeware, the Olivetti Valentine typewriter and the iconic Vespa.

Molto Bello celebrates key proponents in the industry and their enduring contribution to global culture; from the elegant and dynamic early work of architect–designers such as Gio Ponti and Carlo Mollino, through the ingenious and stylish creations of Gae Aulenti, Joe Colombo, and the Castiglioni brothers, to the quirky and provocative Radical Design movement, Memphis Milano, prominent design figures Ettore Sottsass, Nanda Vigo, Gaetano Pesce, and more.

Curators: Kendrah Morgan and Laura Lantieri

Image: Gaetano Pesce for Cassina, Sunset in New York sofa, 1980, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, gift of Cassina, 1985, photograph: Ryan Hernandez.