Enzo Mari, the Italian designer who died on Monday at the age of 88, was considered a radical provocateur. A communist who has often declared design and architecture dead and liked to defy peers, potential clients and his students. As a product designer, he did not want to please primarily the users of his products, but especially the factory workers who had to make them. It was one of his hobbyhorses, derived from the Communist Manifesto: inspiring designs allowed workers to be freed from mind-numbing work.

For Mari, design had to be available to everyone. Out of annoyance at a manufacturer who failed to produce a sofa bed designed by him, he published in 1974 Autoprogettazione, a DIY book containing nineteen designs for wooden furniture. Mari was convinced that users would be more appreciated for furniture they made themselves.

Thirty years later, Finnish Artek took care of one of the designs from the DIY book: Sedia 1 chair. For 260 euros, the purchaser receives thirteen pre-sawn pine slats, a box of nails and a building drawing. On the site of the furniture manufacturer there is a video on which Mari himself assemble the chair. At the request of the bearded Italian there are two practice bars in the kit. “First try to nail those slats together,” he starts his instruction. Always hold the hammer at the end of the stem. And first, a few little taps on the nail before you start knocking big blows. Mari seems to realize that not all design enthusiasts hide a carpenter.

EnzoMari

One of the most anticipated exhibitions of the year was unveiled in triennale milano, along with his museo del design italiano. titled enzo mari composed by hans ulrich obrist, the show, which was co-composed by francesca giacomelli, is dedicated to one of the most important designers, artists, critics and theorists of our time, the brilliant and so on mari. The exhibition, composed of projects, models, drawings and materials, some of which have never seen before, gives visitors the opportunity to explore Mari's long career. Source: NRC #EnzoMari

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