Novalis Contemporary Art Design | Italian design | Hong Kong

17 JULY - 14 AUGUST, 2021

197 HOLLYWOOD ROAD
CENTRAL, HK

Ettore Sottsass
&
Shiro Kuramata

MEMPHIS DESIGN

COLLECTIONS

Memphis Milano

MEMPHIS MILANO

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"Our Focus"

Novalis specializes in showcasing a large number of objects designed by Memphis Group, the famous Italian design movement born in 1981 and led by Ettore Sottsass. The group created furniture, fabrics, ceramics, glasses by prestigious designers and architects as Ettore Sottsass, Michele de Lucchi, Michael Graves, George J. Sowden, Marco Zanini, and many others.

Besides Memphis design, we also represent other talented designer artists, painters, and photographers.

META MEMPHIS

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POST DESIGN

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UNIQUE DESIGN

COLLECTIONS

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BATTEN AND KAMP

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Marcello Morandini

Marcello Morandini

Raoul Gilioli

PHOTOGRAPHY

COLLECTIONS

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TAZIO

SECCHIAROLI

&

FEDERICO

FELLINI

Costanza Gastaldi

Costanza Gastaldi

Chan Dick

Samantha Li

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VALENTINA

LOFFREDO

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NEWS/ EXHIBITIONS

ART CENTRAL
20-23 MAY, 2021

Novalis Contemporary Art Design Gallery are pleased to participate in Art Central 2021. The gallery will be presenting works by Italian design master Ettore Sottsass, and Japanese design master Shiro Kuramata. The encounter between the two was magical. When Kuramata received a letter from Sottsass asking him to join Memphis, he was so elated he said, "I got a love letter from Sottsass!" Their interaction began in 1981 with Memphis, a project that had tremendous impact on the design world. At that time doubts were being cast on modern design with its pursuit of function and rationality. Sottsass called on designers all over the world and launched Memphis as a solution. Despite the difference in expressive styles, their work conveys the same stance towards pushing design as a 'culture' that goes beyond the category of mere 'civilisation. The meaning of 'design' and 'creation' may change drastically as today's excessive market economics and materialistic society comes under fire. Shiro Kuramata and Ettore Sottsass are trying to get us to ask, "What is an unconstrained free spirit?" and "What is design in the true sense?"

MEMPHIS: PLASTIC FIELD

The exhibition at MK Gallery will feature the iconic designs created by the Memphis Group between 1981 – 1988, including work by important contributors such as Shiro Kuramata, Michele De Lucchi, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Martine Bedin, George Sowden, Michael Graves, Javier Mariscal, Marco Zanini, Aldo Cibic and Peter Shire.

MEMPHIS: 40 YEARS OF KITSCH AND ELEGANCE

The Memphis group was one of the most unusual phenomena to appear in the world of design in recent decades. It emerged in the winter of 1980/81, when a group of young designers eager to break away from the dogmas of functionalism and industrial design formed around the Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass.