GRAPHIC ARCHIVES: Franco Grignani, Lora Lamm, Giovanna Graf, Simonetta Ferrante, Heinz Waibl, Bruno Monguzzi, Orio Galli, Vito Noto

The exhibition GRAPHIC ARCHIVES: Franco Grignani, Lora Lamm, Giovanna Graf, Simonetta Ferrante, Heinz Waibl, Bruno Monguzzi, Orio Galli, Vito Noto, is part of the contemporary graphic design theme. The exhibition, curated by Mario Piazza and Nicoletta Ossanna Cavadini, presents a selection of about 300 works kept in the graphic archives of the Centro Culturale Chiasso (Chiasso’s cultural centre), which have taken shape over the years thanks to bequests from artists, internationally renowned graphic designers, as well as through acquisitions made by art lovers and philanthropists, and the association Amici del m.a.x. museo.

The eight protagonists chosen for the exhibition, prominent figures in the world of graphic design, have all been the subject of monographic or thematic exhibitions in Chiasso and thus entered the annals of its Cultural Centre; three of these have entrusted it with their entire archives (Heinz Waibl, Orio Galli and Vito Noto) consisting of drawings, sketches, drafts, posters, brochures, prototypes, etc, others (such as Lora Lamm and Bruno Monguzzi) have instead donated important nuclei representing central themes of their work. Franco Grignani is known for his geometric and optical style, in fact he is remembered for the creation of the pure virgin wool brand; Lora Lamm with her fresh and poetic sign created the ‘corporate style’ of La Rinascente, assisted by the illustrator Giovanna Graf, both of whom trained at the Kunstgewebeschule in Zurich. Simonetta Ferrante’s calligraphic and expressive writing works are remarkable, as are those of Heinz Waibl with his logotypes and corporate identity productions, characterised by creative rigour. The exhibition will feature some splendid posters by Bruno Monguzzi, the creative studies of Orio Galli, an artist who gave a graphic image to tourism in Ticino, and some productions by Vito Noto, a designer capable of combining the technical efficiency of objects with aesthetics in product design.

The exhibition at the m.a.x. museum takes place at the same time as the opening of the CIAG, Centro Internazionale d’Arte e Grafica (International Centre of Art and Graphic), located at Via Dante Alighieri 10, directly opposite the m.a.x. museum, in whose spaces it is possible to consult the materials stored in the archive on request.