The Memphis Group!

The Memphis Group which also goes by the name Memphis Milano was founded in 1980 by a design and architecture group lead by Ettore Sottsass. The group specialized in postmodern furniture, lighting, fabrics, carpets, ceramics, glass, and metal. These designs were active from 1980 to 1987. Their work is characterized as colorful, vibrant, and flamboyant, a lot of their furniture took shape in asymmetrical forms. This style stemmed from the rejects of Modernism, they collectively wanted to change the concept of what design had been focused on. I am guessing the groups’ intentions for their designs could be referred to the famous quote by Louis Sullivan “form follows function”. I am marvled by the ambiguous and questionable furniture they created, although it could be described as “eye candy” furniture many of the pieces look very uncomfortable. I wonder if that was one of the factors that led to the downfall of 1987. Unfortunately, the group parted ways due to insufficient commercial success. Despite this short-lived fad Ettore Sottsass is still considered one of the most well-known Italian post-War designers!

These designs give me major flashbacks from a cartoon I used watch as a kid, it was called “Rolie Polie olie”. Crazy to say when I look at these designs they actually give me a strong sense of nostalgia!