London Design Festival

This September The Molteni Group (Molteni&C and Dada) will participate in the London Design Festival (14-23 September 2012) by devoting its Covent Garden Flagship Store, and an intimate space in the Victoria & Albert Museum, to the maestro of Italian design and architecture, Gio Ponti. A reissued collection of furniture and interior products designed by Ponti between 1935 and the 1950’s, including the Montecatini chair, an armchair, a chest of drawers, a coffee table, a bookcase, a rug and a set of picture frames, will be on display in the UK for the first time. Molteni&C’s long awaited, reissued collection was developed in collaboration with the Ponti Archives over the course of two years, and involved a very rigorous process of research, selection and analysis of prototypes. Ponti’s nephew Salvatore Licitra has embraced the reissued collection saying, “when it comes to Ponti, as Italians and as Milanese, we have a heritage that needs to be highlighted and an archive that is relatively unexplored. There are many forgotten works, and reissuing pieces that were never manufactured – because Ponti designed much more than could have ever been produced – offers us the chance to understand the man, his work and a key moment in Italian architecture and design.” The furniture collection, at the V&A’s Sackler Centre, will be complemented by an installation that involves the public in the design master’s process, and draws us into his world. The original installation, titled “Living alla Ponti”, was first shown in Milan this year, during the Salone del Mobile at the Ordine degli Architetti. The exhibition’s concept was born out of Molteni&C’s intimate encounter with Ponti whilst developing the reissued collection, and took further shape through the incorporation of drawings, photographs, family albums and letters from Ponti’s 50 year career. The research and artifacts were brought to life by Ponti’s family, who animated the material with experiences and stories, allowing Molteni&C to create “Living alla Ponti”, a rare opportunity to see into the unknown, intimate world of the Italian genius. The installation intersperses the reissued pieces with photographs of Ponti’s own homes, his studio - strewn with drawings, blueprints and issues of Domus - and images from his most famous commercial designs including the Montecatini Building and the Pirelli Tower. To coincide with the exhibition, Molteni&C will host a talk with the London Design Festival at the V&A, featuring Stephen Bayley – author, design critic and curator – in conversation with Franco Raggi – designer, architect and Vice President of the Milan Ordine degli Architetti – and Francesca Molteni, cocurators of Vivere alla Ponti, to discuss the development of the exhibition and their process. Two of Ponti’s relatives, his daughter Letizia Ponti and nephew Salvatore Licitra will also speak with Bayley about the relevance of Ponti’s work, his vision and his legacy. The London Design Festival Events COCKTAIL PARTY sponsored by Courvoisier Vivere alla Ponti Molteni&C Flagship Store Wednesday 19th September 6:30pm – 9:00pm RSVP essential: rsvp@moltenidada.co.uk TALK The Intimate World of Gio Ponti Featuring Stephen Bayley in conversation with Franco Raggi, Francesca Molteni, Letizia Ponti and Salvatore Licitra. Hochenhauser Auditorium The Sackler Centre, The Victoria & Albert Museum Cromwell Road London, SW7 7RL Thursday 20th September 10:00 - 12:30pm RSVP Essential as space is limited: yvette@carocommunications.com For more information www.vam.ac.uk INSTALLATIONS The Gio Ponti Collection Molteni&C Flagship Store 199 Shaftesbury Avenue London, WC2 8JR From Friday 14th to Saturday 22nd September Opening Hours 10:00am – 6:00pm Monday to Wednesday and Friday 10:00am – 8:00pm Thursday 10:00am – 5:00pm Saturday Vivere alla Ponti Seminar Room 2 The Sackler Centre, The Victoria & Albert Museum Cromwell Road London, SW7 7RL Friday 14th to Sunday 23rd September All day