DESIGN /
PRODUCT
May 17, 2019
An Exhibition Focusing on Ettore Sottsass's Work from the 1950s-1970s | METROCS
METROCS | METROCS
Featuring ceramic series, typewriters, furniture, and more vintage items for exhibition and sale.
METROCS, an interior brand that handles historical design products from Japan and Europe. Since its establishment in 1993, the company has consistently offered timeless pieces designed for longevity, demonstrating a keen aesthetic sensibility. Now, its flagship store in Shimbashi, Tokyo, will host an exhibition from May 23rd (Thursday) focusing on the work of design and architectural master Ettore Sottsass from the 1950s to 1970s. Sottsass, who founded the design group Memphis in the 1980s and remains one of the most influential figures in contemporary design, begs the question: what was his work like before Memphis?
Text by Satsuki Wakabayashi
Focus on the Master's Work Before Memphis
Italian architect and industrial designer Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007) is considered one of the most significant figures in contemporary design. The design group Memphis, which he founded, garnered fervent attention from the 1980s onwards, and he continued to be active with his abundant creativity until his later years. METROCS in Shimbashi, Tokyo, will host a special exhibition and sale showcasing the evolution of Sottsass's work from his early career up to the Memphis era, revealing a consistent design philosophy. Many may associate Sottsass primarily with Memphis. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to focus on his work from the 1950s to 1970s, prior to the Memphis period.
This event will feature a curated selection of Sottsass's lesser-known works, including his ceramic series for the esteemed Italian pottery manufacturer Bitossi, the "Synthesis 45" office furniture series for Olivetti, and the "Tecnika" furniture for Poltronova. Vintage items will also be on display and available for purchase, alongside select pieces from METROCS's own collection.
Sottsass is widely known for his involvement with "Memphis," founded in 1981. His designs, characterized by vibrant colors and distinctive forms, garnered significant support within the postmodern movement. One of the foundational elements of his unique worldview was his experience creating ceramics for Bitossi in the mid-1950s. At the time, the young architect Sottsass looked up to Aldo Londi, Bitossi's art director, as his mentor in ceramics, and subsequently spent about 20 years visiting the Bitossi production facilities. Londi's vision, which aimed to realize a new modernism, is said to have profoundly influenced Sottsass's subsequent ceramic works.
Furthermore, his solid design work for corporations, including his role as a design consultant for Olivetti from the late 1950s, should not be overlooked. While engaging with the modernism established after the Bauhaus, he energetically introduced products that reflected his unique sensibility. Each piece has transcended its time to be passed down through generations. This rare opportunity to experience the design philosophy and energy of a young architect and industrial designer who captured global attention, before the Memphis era, promises valuable encounters.
Ettore Sottsass 1950-70’s Works
Period: May 23rd (Thursday) - June 15th (Saturday), 2019 (Closed Wednesdays, Sundays, and public holidays)
Venue: METROCS Tokyo Store
Address: 6-18-2 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Regular Holidays | Wednesdays, Sundays, Public Holidays
Business Hours |
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Weekdays)
12:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Saturdays)