Bookcase Carlton, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, 1981
Founded in 1980 by Ettore Sottsass, the Memphis group has influenced the history of design since its inaugural exhibition in 1981. Alongside Sottsass, Michele De Lucchi, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Martine Bedin, George Sowden, etc. are shaping a radical and playful anti-design, in reaction to the good modernist taste, which will become synonymous with postmodernism.
Master of postmodernism, Ettore Sottsass (1917 – 2007), was part of the Italian Anti-design movement in the 1960s before joining Studio Alchimia founded by Alessandro Mendini, then in 1980 he founded the Memphis Milano group.
Already in the 1950s, he developed his colourful and graphic style, notably with ceramic works produced by Bitossi. His productions within the Memphis group, such as the Carlton library or the Tahiti lamp, are the most famous, but he has collaborated with many Italian manufacturers, such as Poltronova, Zanotta, Olivetti, Alessi, etc.
The whole Memphis Milano collection is available at Kissthedesign
