Ravenna hosts the 8th Contemporary Mosaic Biennale (until 14 January 2023), celebrating historical and contemporary interpretations of the craft. An exhibition curated by Wallpaper* Milan Editor Maria Cristina Didero (at MAR - Museo d’Arte della città di Ravenna) explores mosaic through contemporary design, in collaboration with a series of contemporary Milan-based creatives.
Episodi di Mosaico Contemporaneo at MAR
'Teodorico' by Atelier Biagetti
Titled 'Episodi di Mosaico Contemporaneo' (episodes of contemporary mosaic), the exhibition brings together pieces by Atelier Biagetti, Cara/Davide, Francesca Lanzavecchia, Arthur Arbesser, Marco Guazzini and Gio Tirotto.
The project combines industrial design, advanced 3D printing and support shaping technologies merging with the artisanal skill of mosaic, made by skilled master mosaicists with tiles of stone, glass or ceramic materials. Each studio created a unique design and worked closely with a specialised local mosaic workshop to bring their pieces to life.
'Tessere' by Cara/Davide
Cara Judd and Davide Gramatica of Cara/Davide created 'Tessere', a trio of geometric objects that explore the mosaic tile as a modular unit of measurement resulting in the stylized forms of a multifunctional seat and coffee table combo.
Francesca Lanzavecchia, meanwhile, created a series of objects under the aegis of 'Verde Sospeso', a collection of architectural, totemic vases whose design merges nature, design and art. She worked in close collaboration with mosaic artist Arianna Gallo to create the pieces using a specialist direct mosaic technique using enamelled elements.
'Coltempo' by Marco Guazzini
Austrian multidisciplinary designer Arthur Arbesser created 'Miss Universe', a make-up table inspired by the colours of Ravenna's most notable mosaics, connecting with the city on a chromatic level. Marco Guazzini's 'Coltempo' comprises a shelf and a ladder two objects shown in conversation with each other whose mosaic technique lends them a sense of dynamism.
Finally, Atelier Biagetti (whose founders Alberto Biagetti and Laura Baldassari are originally Ravenna locals) paid homage to the city with their 'living pool'. Shaped as a colourful inflatable pool, it is an object that is both playful interpretation of the craft and a homage to the stone bath of iconic Mausoleo di Teodorico, merging the studio's sense of irony with local history and rituals.
Detail of 'Teodorico' by Atelier Biagetti
The exhibition demonstrates the modern possibilities of mosaic and how skill, history and contemporary design thinking can coexist - shown alongside historical mosaic experiments by Alessandro Mendini and Gaetano Pesce, the six designs will become part of the MAR - Museo d’Arte della città di Ravenna, helping to enrich the local history of this important craft.
Episodi di Mosaico Contemporaneo is on view until 14 January 2024
MAR - Museo d'Arte della città di Ravenna
Via di Roma, 13
48121 Ravenna
'Miss Universe' by Arthur Arbesser
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