Materia Independent Design Festival, the most important design event in Southern Italy, will be back in Catanzaro from to 2 to 4 October 2020
Materia Independent Design Festival, the most important design event in Southern Italy, is back. From to 2 to 4 October 2020, Catanzaro will host numerous events, exhibitions, talks, attended by well-known representatives from the design world. “Materia Sospesa,” the theme of this year’s edition, is linked to the atmosphere of uncertainty and anxiety that has been characterizing 2020. The current health emergency has kept many projects on hold. Moreover, due to last spring’s forced closure, many businesses closed, others have not reopened yet. Also our way of living with other people has drastically changed: relationships must be limited and comply with anti-Covid regulations. However, there are people who have not let themselves be discouraged by this new siuation and have kept thinking, designing, creating, just like the artists of this year’s edition of the Materia Independent Design Festival.
Materia Independent Design Festival is organized by Catanzaro-based architecture practice Officine AD, with the art direction of Calabrian designer Antonio Aricò. For this year’s edition, internationally-renowned designers and young talents have been invited to use their imagination to reinterpret religious symbols and church furniture. The artists’ work has led to a series of uncommon objects that offer a contemporary take on traditional Calabrian imagery.
At Materia Independent Design Festival 2020 contemporary artworks meet Calabrian craftsmanship
Famous representatives from the design world such as Elena Salmistraro, Sara Ricciardi, Matteo Cibic,Tommaso Spinzi will participate in the Festival. These artists have worked with their feelings and imagination to create dream-like works of religious inspiration. “The results are imaginative, unconventional, even ironic pieces. There are Matteo Cibic’s kneeling stool, on which one must stand in balance to pray, the Madonna Viola I drew on a drawing pad, embroidered on black tulle, the colorful throne with fringes designed by Elena Salmistraro, in line with her original chromatic universe – says Antonio Aricò, designer and curator of the event. Sara Ricciardi reinterprets the monstrance with copper elements and spikes, while Tommaso Spinzi creates a ‘mechanic’ altar inspired by the cross.”
The call “Miracoli di Design”
Materia Independent Design Festival 2020 dedicates a space to young talents. The call “Miracoli di Design” is addressed to under 40 designers from all over Italy. Artists are asked to make their works relying on artisan techniques and elements belonging to the cultural heritage of their territory. The best works will be awarded during the Festival.
The unmissable events at Materia Independent Design Festival 2020
Among the not-to-be-missed events, we remind you the religious procession of Antonio Aricò’s Madonna Viola, and a photoshoot in the church of San Gaetano Catanoso. Designed by Paolo Zermani, this is the first church built on a plot confiscated from the ‘ndrangheta.
“With ‘Materia Sospesa’ – explains Aricò – we wanted to give a sign. In the year when the Festival has risked being suspended, our intention was to show the dreams and expectations of young Italian designers and manufacturers, a light-hearted story that wants to constantly represent today’s Italy and design.”
You can follow Materia Independent Design Festival 2020 on Instagram and Facebook
Instagram: @materiadesignfestival
