Why You Need to Get to Know The Work of Andrea Branzi
We track the legacy of the Italian designer, and ask why his work continues to resonate.
In Milan this year, Andrea Branzi was the subject of two major shows. One at the city’s Triennale museum, and the other, a presentation of his huge lighting sculptures in a smaller gallery setting.
Since the Italian architect and designer passed away in 2023, there seems to have been an industry-wide reflection on his impact. “He was not afraid to change his mind during his career,” says Deyan Sudjic, the curator behind “Objects That Speak, a Conversation Continued with Andrea Branzi” show. “He was able to work in an industrial context, as well as in the world of fashion.”
And while Branzi was born in the 1930s, this ability to cross boundaries has never been more relevant. Design weeks are no longer defined by furniture launches, and are instead a melting pot of disciplines all using design as a vehicle for communication.
This is the very reason that Rosewood, the organiser of the exhibition, chose to show up during this cultural moment. “Local culture and history are the heartbeat of our design process,” said Trish Luyckx, Chief Design Officer at Rosewood. “They guide us in every decision, from the materials we select to the narratives we weave into the space.
Paying homage to Branzi’s ability to genre-bend, the show paired his works alongside contermporary artists and designers.
Inside the dark-hued space, 15 of his domed lamps towered above the ground, each with their own pattern and texture made visible from the light source within. They speak to a more artistic form of design, which, according to Sudjic, is typical of his work. “Branzi moved beyond the conventional view of design as purely functional; for him, it was just as much about posing questions as it was about providing answers,” he added. “He was able to explore the way that we work and live, and the emotional connection that we have with our possessions.”
Meanwhile, over at the Triennale, the “Andrea Branzi by Toyo Ito. Continuous Present” shows his work through the lens of the Japanese architect.
Courtesy Of Triennale Milano
Courtesy Of Triennale Milano
Courtesy Of Triennale Milano
Courtesy Of Triennale Milano
Courtesy Of Triennale Milano
Courtesy Of Triennale Milano
Courtesy Of Triennale Milano
Bringing together over 400 works, the show is split into themes rather than in a chronological order, paying homage to Branzi as a thinker and academic.
“The era in which Andrea Branzi lived was the golden age of Italian design. It was a time when star architects and designers such as Marco Zanuso, Ettore Sottsass, Vico Magistretti, Gae Aulenti, Alessandro Mendini, and Achille Castiglioni were at the height of their careers,” said Ito.
“Among that constellation, Andrea alone was more of a thinker than an architect or designer,” he continued. “I think he felt the practice of designing actual buildings or furnishings was nothing but a vain attempt. As a result, he never engaged in a design project for design’s sake throughout his entire life.”
At a time when everything feels fleeting, and creativity often feels to exist for the sake of the algorithim, Branzi’s way of thinking perhaps allows fledgling designers to see a different way of working. Beyond those making work themselves, it might also encourage design fans to look beyond the aesthetic of an object, and choose to engage with something because of the method or message behind it.
At least thats what Sudjic thinks makes him someone for us all to know.
“Branzi maintained a deep curiosity and a resistance to accepting received wisdom, qualities that continue to resonate strongly with new generations,” he says.
“Objects That Speak” took place during Milan Design Week, while “Andrea Branzi by Toyo Ito”. Continuous Present continues until October 4th.
