Design is a state of mind

Design is a state of mind will present a landscape of shelving systems, telling the story of design objects and their impact on our lives. An extensive display of shelving systems from the 1930s to the present day will form the backbone of the exhibition. Ranging from historic design classics and one-off pieces, to industrial, utilitarian, contemporary and newly commissioned work, the exhibition will include designs by Gaetano Pesce, Ettore Sottsass, Ercol, Giò Ponti and IKEA.

Each display system will also be used to organise and exhibit collections of objects curated from the personal archives of Gamper’s friends and colleagues as well as an extensive library of contemporary furniture manufacturing catalogues from around the world. For the occasion, new shelving systems designed by Michael Marriott and Martino Gamper, co-produced by Serpentine Galleries, Museion and Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli, will be created.

“There is no perfect design and there is no über-design. Objects talk to us personally. Some might be more functional than others, and the emotional attachment is very individual. This exhibition will showcase a very personal way of collecting and gathering objects – these are pieces that tell a tale.” - Martino Gamper