Formafantasma’s latest exhibition, “La Casa Dentro,” now showing at Fondazione ICA Milano, engages deeply with themes of personal identity and collective memory. This unique body of work, specifically developed for the exhibition, offers a critical examination of Modernism, focusing on its gendered biases and deep-seated roots in a conservative concept of masculinity.
DESIGN
Modernism, which emerged in the early 20th century alongside industrial innovation, often critiqued the ‘effeminate’ characteristics of nineteenth-century eclecticism. Influential architects like Adolf Loos and Henry van de Velde championed a movement defined by simplicity, authenticity, and integrity, positioning these qualities in opposition to the sentimentality and ornamentation of previous eras.
“La Casa Dentro” diverges from traditional Modernist approaches by reevaluating the material and conceptual foundations of the style. Formafantasma utilizes bent tubular metal—a fundamental element in Modernist furniture—to explore the tension between the practical realities of domestic life and the theoretical frameworks of Modernist architecture and design. The exhibition features pieces that blend rational, almost clinical structures of curved steel with elements that evoke personal memories, such as wooden planks decorated with hand embroideries, painted floral patterns, and silk volants.
This introspective collection not only reflects the designers’ own childhood memories but also challenges the established codes of Modernist design, treating professional education in design as the imposition of a rigid canon. “La Casa Dentro” serves as a contemplative space for reflecting on memory, the nostalgia for what is lost, and the challenges inherent in attempting to unlearn deep-seated ideologies.
The exhibition is supported by Galleria Giustini/Stagetti, Rome, and underscores Formafantasma’s ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of design theory and practice. “La Casa Dentro” is a profound meditation on the interplay between personal history and cultural discourse, inviting viewers to rethink traditional narratives within the context of contemporary design.
“La Casa Dentro” will be on view at Fondazione ICA Milano until its closing in July, offering a thoughtful examination of the ways in which our environments shape and are shaped by cultural histories and personal identities.
