FLORA. Italian Cultural Institute, Los Angeles (February 20th - April 19th, 2024)
FLORA is a journey through the fantastical world created by Atelier Manferdini for the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles. The exhibition features design objects, physical models, sculptures and A.I. illustrations that re-interpret images of nature into contemporary design.
In our current age of digital ephemera and computational imagery, nature appears familiar and at the same time eerily synthetic; FLORA exhibits this dichotomy between natural and artificial representation, a silent but constant protagonist of Atelier Manferdini’s artistic production.
The floral motifs within the exhibit undergo a remarkable metamorphosis, intertwining with geometric patterns, delicate furniture forms, and vibrant text-to-image visualizations. As artifacts shift between familiar and alien worlds FLORA ultimately outlines Elena Manferdini’s expression of design as a vehicle for human emotional states and new esthetic identities, that have emerged from our contemporary culture.
IIC Opening photographs by Stefania Rosini.
The Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles is an overseas office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation dedicated to the promotion of Italian culture in the United States. The main activities of the IIC include the organization and support of events, exhibitions and festivals, the development of academic exchange programs, and the promotion of the Italian language.