Italian Style and the Seoul of design

Elegant simple chairs, glamorous lamps, bright confident colors and fastidious craftsmanship.

The "Italian Style" exhibition, now open at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center, will charm viewers with its interesting and exquisitely designed pieces of furniture and domestic objects.

Seoul is the World Design Capital for 2010. Torino, Italy, was the World Design Capital of 2008. "There is a continuity between these two events," said Lucio Izzo, director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Seoul. "We have a lot of exchange, and many Korean delegates came to Torino."

Italian Ambassador Massimo Leggeri agreed: "Design is an area in which Italy and Korea work together a lot.

"Korea has a big interest in this area and has developed an important expertise, and so I think that we can share our experiences."

The exhibition, which showcases more than 180 pieces by designers such as Giancarlo Zompi and Patricia Uriquola, runs until Feb. 20 and is co-hosted by the Korea Foundation, the Sartirana Art Foundation, Italian Cultural Institute and the Embassy of Italy.



Chairs, lamps, and bright utensils are charmingly presented, a palette of color in one room, a wood and chrome oasis in another.

"Italian design relies on one principle: that art and craftsmanship are the same thing," said Izzo. "An object must be useful and practical but, especially, beautiful.

"There is a connection between the way we approach food and design. We want quality and beauty. Italian food is not complicated. But you need fresh, top quality ingredients."

The exhibition celebrates the role of design in modern life.

Giorgio Forni, director of the Sartirana Art Foundation said: "Art, such as painting and sculpture, is not over, but not so contemporary. You can avoid a painting or a sculpture. They are just decorations. These (home style items) are things that you will use and see everyday.

"Contemporary language can speak with everybody, particularly in design. They are the functional objects that appear in everybody`s house."

"When you open a bottle of wine, if you have a beautiful bottle opener, it is a good feeling. It is a pleasure to open your bottle of wine and drink it in a glass that is not so anonymous," added Forni.

The exhibition is a fitting start to the New Year for "a country where art and culture are particularly of interest to people," as the Italian ambassador said.

"This exhibition is, at the same time, art and business," he said. "Through the illustration of beauty you give ideas and encourage the widening of co-operation."

(laravg@hotmail.com)



By Lara Godden