Back to Memphis Milano: A Design Revolution,

On December 11, 1980, a group of young designers and architects gathered in Ettore Sottsass’s living room, while Bob Dylan's Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again plays continuously in the background. Memphis was born.

A few days later, a revolutionary collection of design objects was discussed and outlined, which were to take shape over a following months in the drawings of Ettore Sottsass, Aldo Cibic, Matteo Thun, Marco Zanini, Martine Bedin, Michele De Lucchi, Nathalie Du Pasquier, and George Sowden.

Their new language harmonized elegance with kitsch, challenging the traditional norms, embracing absurd and irrational shapes and injecting playfulness into furniture and object design Stripping forms down to their boldest elements, the designers infused saw-tooth embellishments and lightbulbs, employed diagonals for movement and playfulness, and utilized neon, plexiglass, and painted wood with equal enthusiasm.

The design collective defied conventions, achieved global acclaim for its avant-garde approach and became a cultural phenomenon!

This exhibition presents a vibrant convergence of iconic furniture, drawings, posters, silkscreens, and objects embodying the groundbreaking essence of the Memphis Milano design movement. paying homage to the audacious colours, geometric shapes, whimsical patterns, and imaginative designs that defined an era of pioneering creativity.

The projects conceived by the Memphis group between 1981 and 1988 continue to be produced today in unlimited series, emphasizing design as a means of communication. As a cultural force, Memphis transcends its origins, influencing realms from fashion to film and television. The liberating spirit of Memphis remains a wellspring of inspiration for contemporary designers, prompting reflections on design concepts, aesthetic possibilities, social and communicative functions, and the creative, productive, and economic dimensions that underpin them—all more relevant than ever.

The extreme reactions to Memphis Milano persist—either fervent admiration or perplexity. The very name "Memphis" adds to the intrigue, with Americans associating it not with the Egyptian pyramids but with Elvis Presley's Tennessee hometown. Yet, the movement's founders drew inspiration from Ptah, the Egyptian demiurge of Memphis, embodying the god and protector of artists, craftsmen, and architects.