Design is a state of mind – New exhibition in the Serpentine Sackler Gallery

LONDON - March 6, 2014 - PRLog -- The second exhibition in the history of the Serpentine Galleries to be dedicated purely to design is presented in the Serpentine Sackler Gallery, which was recently redesigned by star architect Zaha Hadid. Following Design Real in 2009, curated by Konstantin Grcic, Italian star designer Martino Gamper is on board for the latest project. As well as the curator and the director of the Serpentine Galleries, Julia Peyton, countless personalities from the worlds of politics and business like London’s mayor, Boris Johnson and the German entrepreneur Lars Windhorst, who are supporters of the art scene in London, attended the opening event.



The influential Italian designer Martino Gamper is based in London. Over the past few years he has focused intensely on the stories behind design objects and the influence of design on peoples’ lives. He is presenting the results of these studies in Design is a state of mind.

Martino Gamper says: “There is no perfect design. Objects talk to us personally. Some might be more functional than others, but the emotional attachment is always individual and subjective. This exhibition will showcase a very personal way of collecting and gathering objects – these are all pieces that tell a tale.”

Forming the basis of the exhibition are shelving systems from the 1930s to the present day. Ranging from historic design classics and one-offs to industrial, utilitarian, contemporary and newly commissioned designs, the exhibition includes pieces by Gaetano Pesce, Ettore Sottsass, Ercol, Gio Ponti and even IKEA.

Each display system will also be used to exhibit design objects from the personal archive of Martino Gamper, as well as of those of his friends and colleagues. They also serve as a canvas upon which to present an extensive collection of contemporary furniture catalogues from all over the world. Among the designers whose collections will be displayed are: Oiva Toikka, Enzo Mari, Paul Neale, Max Lamb, Jane Dillon, Michael Marriott, Sebastian Bergne, Gemma Holt, Fabien Cappello, Adam Hills, Michael Anastsiatis, Andrew McDonagh & Andreas Schmidt, Jerszy Seymour and Martino Gamper himself.

Without the support of financiers, banks and entrepreneurs, such exhibitions would not be possible. The director of the Serpentine Galleries is extremely grateful to its supporters, and in particular the members of the advisory board such as Lars Windhorst from the Sapinda Group, Marlon Abel and Martin Andersson.