The Molteni Museum opens its doors to an extraordinary exhibition celebrating the exceptional talent of Aldo Rossi and his long collaboration with the Molteni Group. Produced on the occasion of the XXII Corporate Culture Week (Nov. 6-20, 2023), the exhibition offers a complete immersion in the furniture, drawings, and documents that testify to the uniqueness of a creative synergy that lasted forty years.
Opening image: Aldo Rossi with the Parigi UniFor armchair (1989)
“When I design a piece of furniture I always remember that strange piece of wood that could become a piece of furniture, then it was destined to be a puppet, and finally it became Pinocchio. Of course it was an ingenious piece of wood, but it’s not out of the question that these things happen.” Aldo Rossi, 1990
The exhibition, curated by Ron Gilad and with the scientific collaboration of the Aldo Rossi Foundation, tells the story of the collaboration between the architect and the Molteni Group through a new layout. Gilad, with his unique vision, highlights the marriage of architecture and design that generated iconic works.
Iconic furniture
The centrepiece of the exhibition is the 1982 Teatro chair, the inaugural design by Aldo Rossi and Luca Meda. In addition to this icon, the exhibition features other extraordinary pieces, including the Parigi armchair (UniFor, 1989), the Piroscafo furniture (Molteni&C, 1992), and the Capitolo series (Molteni&C, 1982-1988), all of which testify to the broad scope of this fruitful collaboration.
The Milano chair (Molteni&C, 1987) and Papyro desk (Molteni&C, 1989) reveal Rossi’s more poetic and inspired side. The exhibition offers an in-depth look at how the architect integrated architectural elements into furniture, creating a timeless catalog of design.
Creative Exchange and Realization
The exhibition goes beyond the presentation of furniture, offering a glimpse into Aldo Rossi’s creative process. Through documents and testimonials, the audience can understand how Rossi interpreted thoughts and designs, contributing to the creation of furniture and exhibition displays, an activity that involved Molteni teams from 1979 to 1997.
The collaboration between Aldo Rossi and the Molteni Group, as Rossi himself stated, produced “furniture or architecture” designed to withstand the passage of time and not built to follow fashion. The exhibition is a tribute to the enduring influence of this collaboration on contemporary design.
Side Events
The exhibition will be introduced by a talk by architectural history experts, Roberto Dulio (Associate Professor of Architectural History at Politecnico di Milano DABC) and Claudia Tinazzi (Researcher in Architectural and Urban Composition at Politecnico di Milano’s Department of Architecture, Building Engineering and the Built Environment). During the event, the documentary “Aldo Rossi Design” by Francesca Molteni and Mattia Colombo will be presented, offering a unique look at the extraordinary life and work of Aldo Rossi.
Visiting the Molteni Museum during the XXII Corporate Culture Week is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the genius of Aldo Rossi and the legacy of a collaboration that has indelibly marked the history of 20th century design.
(“An ingenious wood” – Aldo Rossi and the Molteni Group on display at the Molteni Museum – barchemagazine.com – November 2023)
