The Memphis Group (est. in 1980 by Ettore Sottsass) was an Italian design and architecture collective that aimed to evolve the future of design through eccentric pieces that have been described as “a shotgun wedding between Bauhaus and Fisher-Price”. Colourful and asymmetrical pieces of plastic laminate and terrazzo were often fit together for an abstract object meant to be used as decoration or furniture. Although very cheap to construct, The Memphis Group slapped hefty price tags on their works, designing them to sell to a luxury market.
Shiro Kuramata is considered one of Japan’s most important designers of the 20th century. He was born just before the start of WW2, one artist amongst a generation of creatives who changed the way Japan was viewed by the world. Towards the end of the ’80s, Kuramata was invited by Sottsass to join The Memphis Group; unfortunately, the collective was disbanded shortly after.
“My strongest desire is to be free of gravity, free of bondage. I want to float”
Shiro Kuramata
Shiro was often known for his usage of industrial materials, such as plexiglass and wire steel mesh, as well as the way he merged popular culture, Japanese aesthetic and the Western avant-garde.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiro_Kuramata
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Group