Swinburne University of Technology: History and heritage inspire creativity

Can a chair designed over 50 years ago inspire creative work today? Australian artist Anna Caione answers, ‘yes!’ with her artwork La Mamma Dispersa.

Along with five other contemporary creatives of Italian descent, Anna created the Parallel Visions exhibition as an exploration into how design history can enrich contemporary artmaking.

Their inspiration came from the work and creative practises of 20th century Italian designers.

Large rectangular chunks of red foam are piled on top of one another
Gaetano Pesce’s original ‘La Mamma’ chair design was inspired by experimenting with materials and Anna followed suit with her explorations in foam.

A desire to connect past to present
Anna and three fellow artists each selected a 20th century Italian designer and crafted creative responses to their work.

Associate Professor of Architectural History at Swinburne, Flavia Marcello, worked alongside them to create a virtual reality experience inspired by the 1930s Milan Triennale.

Even the exhibition’s display system was influenced by 20th century Italian design, resulting in a playful cross-pollination of design, art and history.

“It is about transforming design forms into non-functional artworks,” Anna said.

“It is that idea of twisting meaning and interpretation – disassembling a design object while exploring and manipulating its materials and forms.”

Cabinet of Curiosities – Artist, Sarina Lirosi, was inspired by Alessandro Mendin’s ’Quali Cose Siamo’ to explore forty objects that were intriguing, playful or which held an emotional connection

Drawing inspiration
Anna’s work responded to multidisciplinary superstar Gaetano Pesce. She focused on his famous piece, the La Mamma chair, in her creative exploration La Mamma Dispersa.

Material and playfulness inspired Pesce’s design. His work helped pioneer the use of polyurethane, with his original vacuum-packed design growing from a small disk to a full-size chair.

Anna took this idea and teased it apart.

“The concept was to create the idea that the chair had been sliced, dispersed, reconfigured, and reinterpreted into an artwork,” said Anna.

“It has different meaning for different people. But I like the notion from the 1954 Triennial, abandoned playfulness.”

However, the exhibition stretches beyond simply recreating the past and focuses on recontextualising it.

Notably, Parallel Visions draws on the interplay between the patriarchal and matriarchal, as contemporary creative women respond to the work of historical male designers and deconstruct it through their own lens.

“In 20th century design, there weren’t many female designers, particularly in Italian design. It was a very patriarchal world,” Anna explained.

“We want to show how times have now changed and that model is breaking down – hasn’t broken down – but is breaking down. The exhibition is about that as well.”

Gold Mine (for Giò Pomodoro) – Wilma Tabacco was drawn to learn more about Italian abstract artist Gio Pomadoro, because of similarities she found to her own work, especially with gold metallics

Why is design history so important?
While creative inspiration is an extremely individual process, Parallel Visions demonstrates the vital part history can play, especially when it has a personal connection to an artist.

“You need to understand the past – how it connects to us. It creates and informs the lives we live today,” Anna said.

“History opens up your world of inquiry and creativity. It makes you a curious person. Without curiosity, you’re not creating.”