Alessi, Tendentse – Alessandro Mendini & Sanchita Ajjampur – Vaas – ‘100% Make Up’ – No. 3 – Limited Edition 00293/10.000 – Porcelain

In 1990 Officina Alessi acquired the rights to the 'Tendentse' project that concerned ceramics. Initiated in 1985 by Ettore Sottsass, Adolfo Natalini, Andrea Branzi and Alessandro Mendini, the project aimed at experimental research into handmade objects and their 'emotional content', which could inform and inspire the design of mass-produced objects. Ceramics had been selected because of the ancient origins of the medium's forms, decorations and processes. The results of first experiments were objects forming the initial 'Tendentse' collection launched in 1989. Following Alessi's acquisition of the 'Tendentse' project, experiments focussed on the ceramic vase, 'one of mankind's most ancestral wares' (A. Mendini, 'The 100% make-up', p.118, in: Alessi Design factory, 1994). In 1992, the firm released ten thousand vases from 'The 100% make-up' series which formed a spectacular highlight of the 'Tendentse' collection. All vases were wheel-thrown and cast in white porcelain to one basic design by Alessandro Mendini. Identical in form, colour and material, they began their life as most of mass-produced objects do. The similarity ended there however, as the vases were then decorated with one hundred different designs commissioned from one hundred artists, architects and designers from Europe, Africa, Asia and America. Each design was copied on... lees verder bij Catawiki