New Beats at the Mediterranean Corte Designed by Ilaria Marelli
June 24, 2008 | Levent OZLER
Ilaria Marelli has designed "CORTE" (= courtyard), the set of latest New Beat(s) exhibition, launching young talents at Pitti Immagine Uomo, international men's fashion fair, held in Florence from June 18th to 21st, 2008.
"CORTE" installation by Ilaria Marelli, her fifth exhibit design for Pitti Immagine, creates the relaxed atmosphere of Mediterranean houses, courtyards and squares by featuring their typical tones of white and blue, architectural and decorative elements and the characteristic painted ceramics and tiles called "azulejos".
With its ultramarine coloured façade, the graphic decoration and its fluid silhouette, the entrance portal introduces the visitors to the spirit of the exhibition inside the Lyceum pavilion. A wide staircase, featuring a vaulted ceiling, leads the visitors to the elliptical centre space with its walls entirely covered with figurative decorations, a reproduction of Lisbon "azulejos", the traditional ceramics painted with rural scenes and mythological figures. Stylized architectural elements like columns, arches and portals are completing the Mediterranean image of the space, as well as the poetic fountain with water lilies and the bar, placed at the centre of the space. Both are inspired by Mediterranean constructions and craft tradition, combining stylistic elements of wells and bowers to white-and-blue ceramics' patterns and colours.
Placed along the central square, seven exhibition rooms feature reproductions of "azulejos", irregularly applied to the walls as if they were remnant traces of past times.
Further characteristic elements like orange trees, vases of agaves and wells of fortune are placed in the middle of every room, emphasizing the courtyard mood.
No surprise that designer Ilaria Marelli has considered every single detail of "Corte" installation, dressing the bar-tenders, serving Mediterranean-flavoured food, in white and blue. Traditional South-European music is completing the relaxed atmosphere.
Ilaria Marelli "Corte" installation - her fifth exhibit design for Pitti Immagine - is one more testimony of the designers' capability to create exhibit environments able to reach the visitors' sensory perception and to evoke their memories and past experiences.
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