Enzo Mari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Enzo Mari
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Enzo Mari in his studio in Milan, 1974
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| Born | 27 April 1932 |
| Died | 19 October 2020 (aged 88) |
| Spouse(s) |
Lea Vergine
(m. 1978) |
Enzo Mari (born April 27, 1932 – died October 19, 2020) was a famous Italian artist and designer. He created furniture and other products. Many designers who came after him were inspired by his work. He was known for his simple, modern style.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
Enzo Mari was born in Novara, Italy. He went to art school at the Brera Academy in Milan, Italy. He studied there from 1952 to 1956.
Designing a Career
Mari was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. This movement believed in making beautiful things by hand. He also had strong political views as a communist. This meant he believed in fairness for everyone.
From 1956, Mari focused on industrial design. This is about designing products for factories to make. He created more than 2,000 different designs.
Books and Art Movements
In the 1960s, Mari published several books. One famous book was "The Apple and the Butterfly." It told the story of a caterpillar and an apple using only pictures, no words.
In the 1970s, Mari became a professor. He taught at The Humanitarian Society in Milan. He also started an art group called Nuova Tendenza. During this time, he designed the "Sof Sof" chair and the "Box" chair.
DIY Furniture Designs
In 1974, Enzo Mari created a special book called Autoprogettazione. This book was his response to furniture being made in huge factories. It showed people how to build 19 pieces of furniture themselves. The book gave plans and instructions. It used simple, common materials.
In the 1980s, he designed another famous piece. It was the "Tonietta" chair. This chair also had a modern, simple look.
Teaching and Exhibitions
Mari also taught at other universities. These included the University of Parma, the Accademia Carrara, and the Milan Polytechnic.
Many of Mari's designs have been shown in famous museums. His work was displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He also had special shows of his work in Turin. A big exhibition of his work was held at the Triennale in Milan.
Enzo Mari gave all his design archives to the city of Milan. He asked that they not be shown for 40 years.
Personal Life
Enzo Mari married Lea Vergine in 1978. She was an art critic and artist. They had known each other since the 1960s.
Mari passed away on October 19, 2020. He was 88 years old. He died from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. His wife, Lea Vergine, also died from COVID-19 just one day later.
Awards and Recognition
Enzo Mari received many important awards for his designs:
- He won the Compasso d'Oro award in 1967. This was for his special research in design.
- He won the Compasso d'Oro again in 1979 for his "Delfina" chair.
- In 1987, he received the Compasso d'Oro for his "Tonietta" chair.
- He won the Compasso d'Oro a fourth time in 2001 for his "Legato" table.
- In 2000, the RSA of London gave him the "HonRDI" award. This means Honorary Royal Designer for Industry. Only 200 people can hold this title at one time.
- The Faculty of Architecture at Milan Polytechnic gave Mari an honorary degree in Industrial Design in 2002.
See also
In Spanish: Enzo Mari para niños
