Heide Unveils 20th Century Italian Design Exhibition

Heide Museum of Modern Art has unveiled a new exhibition showcasing many of the most significant achievements in the history of twentieth-century Italian design, presented by Italian civil engineering group Webuild and supported by the Italian Australian Foundation and John and Rose Downer Foundation. On display until 23 March 2025, Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design tells the remarkable story of how, through the marriage of Italy's rich craft tradition, technological advances and a capacity for creativity, experimentation and invention, Italian design became admired throughout the world. 

Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design brings together more than 170 objects spanning the sixty year period from the first Milan Design Triennale in the 1930s to the Memphis Group of the 1980s. Held across Heide's Main Galleries and Heide Modern, the exhibition celebrates key figures in the industry and their enduring contribution to global culture. From the dynamic early work of architect–designers such as Gio Ponti and Carlo Mollino, through the ingenious and stylish creations of Gae Aulenti, Joe Colombo, and the Castiglioni brothers, to the quirky and provocative Radical Design movement, Memphis Milano, prominent design figures Ettore Sottsass, Nanda Vigo, Gaetano Pesce, and more. 

In the Main Galleries, the exhibition design by Melbourne-based practice Studio Peter King draws inspiration from Italian architecture and classic interior design motifs, guiding the audience through the trajectory of modern Italian design and its enduring impact. In Heide Modern, furniture from the 1960s and 1970s is arranged in the living spaces, speaking to the function of each room and reflecting the period in which the former residence was built. 

Drawn from public and private collections and leading design brands, the objects in the exhibition include vintage and re-editioned classic chairs and furniture, lighting, espresso machines, typewriters and examples of landmark transport designs. Through recognisable and rare pieces, the exhibition explores the breadth of materials and manufacturers, and diverse approaches to form and function adopted by Italian designers in a rapidly evolving social and industrial landscape. Highlights include Gio Ponti's ground-breaking Superleggera chair, a Vespa GS 150 and 1957 Fiat Nuova 500, Joe Colombo's futuristic Elda chair of 1963, a gallery dedicated to work of the recently deceased visionary designer Gaetano Pesce, and an array of playful postmodern creations by Ettore Sottsass and the Memphis group.  

Heide Museum of Modern Art Head Curator Kendrah Morgan said: "We are delighted to be showcasing so many pieces from one of the most compelling and influential periods of design innovation, and which reflect significant shifts in Italy's social, cultural and political landscape. The exhibition is the result of extensive research and close collaboration with design experts. The objects have been sourced entirely from within Australia, thanks to the assistance of generous individual collectors and design enthusiasts."

Alongside the exhibition, Heide will host Molto Italiano!, a two-day community festival celebrating Italian culture, supported by the Italian Australian Foundation. Activating the whole of the Heide site from Saturday 30 November to Sunday 1 December 2024, the festival will have activities for all ages, from lawn bocce (overseen by members of the nearby Veneto Club), to Fornasetti-inspired art workshops, exhibition talks in Italian and English, and an Italian-themed 'Design Roadshow' where visitors can bring a design object from home for expert assessment. Italian food and drink will be on offer throughout, as well as music performed by Bella Ciao and the Veneto Club choir.

Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design will be accompanied by a catalogue publication with an introductory essay by Head Curator Kendrah Morgan with Associate Curator Laura Lantieri, an historical overview of the period by Professor Flavia Marcello, and an essay presenting new research on the influence of Italian design on Australian design by historians and collectors Dean Keep and Jeromie Maver.