It looks just as impressive on display in museums as in the homes of design lovers. As a non-conformist object halfway between a work of art and a decorative accessory, the Tahiti Lamp by Ettore Sottsass charms us with its modernness. It has an unconventional shape – a lot like a duck – which has become the manifesto of the anti-conventionalist movement at Memphis. First conceived in 1981, its disruptive lines and exuberant colours draw their inspiration from the numerous journeys undertaken by the genius from Milan. It is this fantasy for far-off places which has led Sottsass to create this whimsical light and which explains the choice of symbolic name, Tahiti. A new suggestion for an everyday object, a far cry from the rationalism and strict functionality with which it is usually associated. Because the designer’s creation carries a message, a new mentality. This is a message of a playful, whimsical design. With Tahiti, Sottsass has designed a lamp that catches on easily for the mood it creates as well as the choice of its materials. Between laminated plastic and metal enamelled with polychrome, the designer has combined the qualities of “poor” and “noble” in an object that has quickly become a classic in the history of design!
Want to learn more about the work of this genius from Milan? Discover the retrospective exhibition of Ettore Sottsass – the magic object – at the Pompidou Centre – Place George Pompidou, 75004 Paris – until 3 January next year. Open every day except Tuesday 11 am – 9 pm.
Photography : Constance Gennari, Valerio Geraci, Jeanne Perrotte – Text : Juliette Bruneau @thesocialitefamily
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