Local Icons. Greetings from Rome, a project by Alcantara e MAXXI that has as its goal the creative reinterpretation of some objects-the symbol of Rome.
Inaugurated on March 26 7 will remain open until June the exhibition Local Icons. Greetings from Rome, the result of the new project, a collaboration between the National Museum of XXI Century Arts in Rome and Alcantara.
"Today it is difficult to find objects that can be real local icons" explain the two curators, Giulio Cappellini for Alcantara and Domitilla Dardi Design Curator, MAXXI Architettura, who have chosen to involve some design firms deeply linked to Italy, for a project that revisits the uniqueness of Rome in a contemporary key.
Gentucca Bini, Lanzavecchia + Wai, Laudani & Romanelli, Paola Navone, Patricia Urquiola, Stefano Giovannoni, Zanellato / Bortotto: these are the protagonists of Local Icons.
On a carousel in the middle of the room Carlo Scarpa MAXXI revolve, in oversize format, their memories of Rome.
The most lively Roman gesture is the protagonist in the project "Greetings from Rome" by Gentucca Bini, the "Dolce Vita" by Paola Navone is a Vespa in tricolor, the traditional fiasco protagonist of the "Objects for Rome" by Laudani & Romanelli and the "Artichoke" by Zanellato / Bortotto bring to mind the flavors and colors of the typical trattorias of Trastevere. A warm, sincere Rome, but also cultured like that of Lanzavecchia + Wai which, inside their “Dome” lampshades, reproduce the architectural frieze of the domes of St. Peter and the Pantheon on printed Alcantara. Finally, a tribute to Roman antiquity in Stefano Giovannoni's "Lalupa", a series of cases for technological devices where the subject of the she-wolf with twins is reinterpreted by Alcantara in a game of tracery and laser engravings, and in Patricia's "Manhole cover" Urquiola, tablet holder that reproduces the manhole in Rome with the inscription SPQR
7 projects, declined in size souvenir alongside other emblematic objects, the versatility of Alcantara interprets grasping the deeper meaning.
A collection inspired by Rome and the richness of his imagery cultural, historical and popular, born talent and sensibility of authors who have produced objects that are part of our heritage of memories and emotions that evoke very personal.
With Local Icons. Greetings from Rome MAXXI and Alcantara begin a journey in search of those images that define the places of memory of a culture, to reread them in the light of new projects. Once again the collaboration between MAXXI and Alcantara highlights the common dialogue with creativity and research, and the profound attention dedicated to the most diverse languages, experimentation and cultural innovation.
“The MAXXI - Alcantara project, now in its fourth edition, is one of those that best reflects the museum's mission and its commitment to promoting and supporting today's creative talents”, says Giovanna Melandri, President of the MAXXI Foundation. “This project continues to demonstrate the validity of a new form of collaboration between institutions and private companies, which goes beyond the traditional concept of sponsorship to become a real creative collaboration. Furthermore, the choice of a theme linked to Rome allows MAXXI to further emphasize its openness to the city, its willingness to talk about the themes and suggestions it inspires, through the visions of contemporary creatives ”.
"We are pleased to renew the collaboration project with MAXXI", explains Andrea Boragno, President and CEO of Alcantara SpA, "in particular for an exhibition that, like this one, touches the most intimate chords of our memories, placing the accent on Alcantara values. The ability of our material to dress every project with innovative elegance, its innate eclecticism make it an ideal interpreter in every area, defining a unique lifestyle, where aesthetic emotion merges with functionality and respect for the environment. . A versatility that feeds on the continuous dialogue with the creative universe, as confirmed by the collaboration with MAXXI ”.
A vision underlined by Margherita Guccione, director of MAXXI Architecture: “Once again our innovative model of collaboration between museum and company is based on the co-production of a shared cultural project. This year's theme works on memory and recollection linked to travel and a city with a strong monumental and historical character like Rome. The reinterpretation of the authors of the world of design is in tune with the vocation for contemporaneity that MAXXI wants to represent in the Eternal City, with innovative and experimental research such as those born from the MAXXI-Alcantara partnership. "