His design idea was not only innovative but also had a purely social function. He made Made in Italy great: his name will remain for a long time in the history of Italian design in the world. Enzo Mari died at the age of 88. He was hospitalized at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. A few days ago the Milanese city was celebrating it at the Triennale, where the “Enzo Mari” exhibition curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist with Francesca Giacomelli was inaugurated. The exhibition can still be visited until April 18.
Enzo Mari, over 1500 objects and great creativity
During his long career he has created over 1500 objects, conceived as beautiful objects but which were also functional. A creative and intellectual path of great importance for the whole sector. He has received many awards, including five Compassi d'Oro awards, the last of which in 2011 for his career. His latest book was recently released, which is an ironic and clever account of his career.
Enzo Mari's training and his creative path
Born in Cerano in the province of Novara in 1932, he has always lived in Milan. He was a student at the Brera Academy. The most important works have spread the idea of Made in Italy throughout the world, so much so that they have received important international awards. Many of his works, in fact, are exhibited at MoMA in New York at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome, but also at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam at the Milan Triennale. A path along his. The international consecration took place in 1972 with the exhibition “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” at the MoMA in New York.
The donation of his archive to Milan
The link with the Lombard city was very deep for Enzo Mari. In fact, Milan was for him not only the city of his training but also the place where he exhibited and presented his artistic production. And in fact a few months ago, the Municipality of Milan had approved the resolution of acceptance of the donation of its archive. A precious collection from 1952 to 2015, with 1.500 works with an estimated value of half a million euros. Among them are models, drawings, proofs, posters, works of art, but also books and catalogs.
A creative activity that of Enzo Mari that ranges from design to painting, from graphics to setting up. He participated in the Milanese artistic avant-gardes and first became part of the Kinetic Art group and then of the Programmed Art group. His design objects, as mentioned, but also with great social value. Among them are the Putrella tray, produced by Danese, the Sof – Sof chairs by Driade, and Delfina by Rexite. And then the game-book of 1965 to stimulate children's creativity entitled "The game of fairy tales". There are six tables that allow the child to disassemble and reassemble the pieces and give life to many stories.
