Enzo Mari Exhibition Highlights

The Enzo Mari's story told through some of his most significant projects

Equipment for research on colour and volume relations paper and wood (1952) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

Enzo Mari (Cerano, Novara, 1932 – Milano, 2020) attended the Accademia di Brera in Milan, initially operating in the field of Programmed Art then, from 1956 onwards, devoting himself to industrial design as well as experimenting with new materials.

I luoghi deputati (The designated places) (1953) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

He promoted the international art movement Nuove Tendenze.

16 animals (1957) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

In the 1960s, he revolutionised the concept of design through objects intended for “ordinary people”, previously excluded from a sector considered elitist.

La mela e la farfalla, printing draft (1958/1969) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

Iron section bar containers, putrella series, model A (1958) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

This gave rise to creations standing the test of time, untrammelled by trends, whose significance lies not only in prolonged, continuous research but also in the quality of their forms.

Camicia (1961) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

The Nature Series, No. 1: the apple (1961) by Enzo Mari with Elio MariTriennale Milano

Mari has always considered human needs outside of market conditioning. His work embraces his creations as an artist, designer, and theorist; he is also the author of fifteen explanatory and political books.

The Nature Series, No. 2: the pear (1961) by Enzo Mari with Elio MariTriennale Milano

Formosa e Timor (1963 - Formosa, 1966 - Timor) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

The Nature Series, No. 5: the wolf (1964) by Enzo Mari with Elio MariTriennale Milano

The Nature Series. No. 4: the panther (1964) by Enzo Mari with Elio MariTriennale Milano

Structure 1059 (1964) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

His works are in the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Rome; Musee des Arts decoratifs, Palais du Louvre, Paris; Centre d’Art Santa Monica, Barcelona;

Struttura 793 (1965) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

but also of the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, Krefeld, and Gallery of Modern Art, Zagreb, as well as in other public and private collections.

The Nature Series, preliminary sketches and variations for the goose (1967) by Enzo Mari with Elio MariTriennale Milano

He has taught in several Italian universities as well as in Vienna and Berlin.

L’uovo e la gallina (1969) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

L’uovo e la gallina (1969) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

Sedia P (1973) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

Mari was awarded the Compasso d’Oro on five occasions: the first time was in 1967 for “individual design research” while the last was in 2011 in recognition of his career.

Technical drawing for Simon International of a chair variant with notes on components, radex (1973) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

Atlante secondo Lenin: Social Plate, Economy Plate, Geography Plate, Culture Plate, History Plate (1974) by Enzo Mari with Francesco LeonettiTriennale Milano

Il lavoro. Second panel of the Critica della Ricerca Intellettuale Separata (1975) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

Tonietta (1980) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

In 2014, he received the Ambrogino d’Oro, the highest distinction awarded by the City of Milan

Tonietta (1987) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

In 2000, the Politecnico di Milano conferred on him an honorary degree in Industrial Design, and in 2015, the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera awarded him an honorary academic diploma in the visual arts along with the title of Accademico d’Italia.

Ecolo (1992) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

Per forza di levare (1994) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

Project 1810, il puzzle istruzioni per l’uso (2009) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

“Qualche puntino sulle i” column (2011/2012) by Enzo MariTriennale Milano

Credits: Story

President: Stefano Boeri

Artistic Director: Lorenza Baroncelli

curated by: Hans Ulrich Obrist with Francesca Giacomelli

Assistant to the Curators: Marilia Pederbelli

Exhibition design: Paolo Ulian

Graphic design: NORM, Zurigo

Site specific artworks:
Tacita Dean
Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster
Adelita Husni-Bey
Mimmo Jodice
Dozie Kanu
Adrian Paci
Barbara Stauffacher Solomon
Rirkrit Tiravanija
Nanda Vigo
Danh Vō
Virgil Abloh (per il progetto di merchandising) / (for the merchandising project)

Video interviews editing: Claudia Ferri

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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