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TIME
Made by Hand by Alberto Cavalli
THIRTEEN TOP ITALIAN ATELIERS TO INTERPRET MENDINI’S
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Giorgio de Santillana wrote that “in the archaic universe all things were signs and signature of each other, inscribed in the hologram, to be divined subtly.” The silent but eloquent dialogue among objects, materials and shapes represents a powerful form of communication between the self and the other self. A dialogue unravelling in time, increasing value in time. Thus an exhibition consecrated to time cannot avoid to face both impressions and symbols evoked by the ticking away of minutes: impressions made of signs, as if they were the hand on a watch dial, fixing moments to remind, instants to linger upon. And symbols like totemic representations, like “sculptural-icons” composed of shapes defining their aura of energy and poetry. In creating the works exhibited in the show “Arts & Crafts & Design. Time according to Alessandro Mendini and his artisans” the co-operating relations between art, design and craft are emphasised: the artist’s intuition creates
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a dialogue with the artisans’ capability to interpret and transform matter, to define a new way to see the object, enhancing its multiform identities. The maître d’art turns the project into a product; the designer shapes inspirations by constantly renewing techniques, styles, realms of knowledge representing an extraordinary cultural heritage. The subject of time was chosen as a homage to the world of fine watchmaking, where design, technique and art are strictly intertwined: for this reason this exhibition will be inaugurated at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, under the patronage of Vacheron Constantin. The show was conceived by Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain and Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte. It is organised by Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. The thirteen works designed by Alessandro Mendini are created with thirteen different materials by great Italian artisans: the dialogue between
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