A Glimpse into the mind of David Palterer

ISIA (Instito Superiore per la Industrie Artistiche), Florence - Tuesday, May 31st, 2011
Presentation by David Palterer

On June 2nd we attended a lecture by architect/designer, David Palterer. He showed us a presentation about a number of the products he designed. This blog entry shows some of my favourite products with a description of why they are special. I also have a few quotes from David Palterer which I thought were great. N.D. The quotes might be paraphrased.

Shedding Some Light: Technology's Influence on Society

CCC Strozzina, Florence - Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

As I sit here typing, bathed in the light of my laptop computer, I cannot help but feel like I am personifying a term that I didn't even know existed until a few weeks ago. The irony of the situation is enhanced by the fact that at this very moment i am writing for a blog, and the iPod by my side seals the deal - I am a digital negative.

I came across the phrase 'digital negative' at an exhibition held at the CCC Strozzina (Centro di Cultura Contemporanea a Palazo Strozzi) in Florence, entitled Virtual Identities. It is an exhibition that confronts the role of technology in today's society and how it has affected social interaction and self perception/expression. Virtual Identities features the work of several artists who concentrate on the different ways in which technology has influenced communication across different generations.

Advertising for 'Virtual Identities' outside the CCC Strozzina

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

Uffizi Gallery, Florence - Monday, June 2nd

A very dramatic and passionate artist who's extreme temper and erratic behaviour came through in his art which inspired succeeding generations of followers all over Europe. 
Born in Caravaggio, Lombardy in Northern Italy, he moved to Rome in 1592 at the age of 21 where he worked on still life's until 1595 when his abilities were recognized by an eminent Cardinal, Francesco del Monte. Through the cardinals network he began to receive his first commissions, and became a celebrity nearly overnight. 
Caravaggio's fast and angry temper soon led to a string of arrests for abuse of the police, throwing artichokes at a waiter, carrying a sword in public and the list goes on yet his powerful contacts forced the magistrate to release him time and again.  It wasn't until he went to far,

Italian Military Tradition - The Bersaglieri Hat

Florence - Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

Italian Infantry Troops (Bersaglieri) marching in Italy Unification Day Parade

Thursday, June 2nd in Florence was Italy's 150th Unification Day. This is the day they celebrate the unification of the states of Italy. As we were walking, we saw this group passing us, and then they started playing music further along the way, starting a parade. As all countries have their unique traditions, I was intrigued by this one that I had never seen before - the military Bersaglieri Hat.

Favourite Painting at Uffizi Gallery

Uffizi Gallery, Florence - Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

 
"Judith Slaying Holofernes" By Artemisia Gentileschi.

 This painting is one of my favourite renaissance paintings and it was a nice surprise to find it in Florence's Uffizi Gallery. Artemisia is not only an extremely talented painter, who was highly influenced by Caravaggio, she is also one of  the few female painters of her time and the first to be accepted in the Accademia di Arte del Disegno in Florence.

Uffizi Gallery; Paintings

Uffizi Gallery, Florence - Thursday, June 2

Birth of Venus by Botticelli

Proportions of the women in the works displayed in Uffizi Gallery are very inordinary. The women have unusually long neck followed by the low and curvy shoulder, very small mouth, and very long fingers and toes.

I have noticed that the women in these works have many facial features in common and surprisingly, these correspond with the perfect physiognomy originated in Asia. Eyebrows are located high above the long and large eyes.

Hyunji Son, Laura Palbom

Richard Ginori

To follow up with the previous post, this is a little glimpse into the production processes at the Richard Ginori factory.