maurizio cattelan photographs 1968 radical italian furniture design

maurizio cattelan photographs 1968 radical italian furniture design
(above) 1967 ‘boomerang’ desk by maurice calka
all photographs by maurizio cattelan and pieropaolo ferrari
© deste foundation and toiletpaper

‘1968’ is the latest project from maurizio cattelan and pierpaolo ferrari’s toiletpaper magazine. the recently released book ‘1968: italian radical design’ documents — in the duo’s distinctive high-contrast, erotic and unorthodox method — the unparalleled acquisitions of greek design collector dakis joannou. commissioned by the athens-based philanthropist’s deste foundation, the spreads feature glossy photos of iconic furniture pieces from the 1960s and early 70s like the enlarged grass ‘pratone’ chair by gufram (which cattelan imagines as a field of manicured zombies) and alberto rosselli’s 1969 ‘moby dick’ lounge chair (shadowed by crudely represented, sheet-clad human ghost).

the design firms that categorize this era of ‘radicalism’ like archizoom, superstudio, global tools and 9999, were firmly opposed to ‘good design’ and initiated a new language of form and sensibility. playfully ironic, vulgar and sharply witty, the book’s spreads artfully translate this pivotal time for international design as eye-popping, mischievous, bold and racy scenes.

alberto rosselli’s 1969 ‘moby dick’ lounge chair

1970 ‘libro chair’ from gianni pareschi and umberto orsoni

(left) ‘pratone’ chair by gufram

1974 ‘argine chair’ by libidarch group

1970 ‘quaderna 2600’ by superstudio

aerial photo of dakis joannou’s garden displays matti suuronen’s ‘futuro house’

‘1968: italian radical design’ front book cover