Call for Papers
Symposium “Exploring National Identity: Italian Design in the Twentieth
Century”
Saturday 5th February 2005, 10.30am-4pm
Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture, Middlesex University
How do designed objects help to define national identity? Is nationality a
useful framework for the discussion of design? Are there ever tensions
between the aims of the designer and the meanings ascribed to objects by
wider society? The aim of this symposium is to explore the concept
of ‘national identity’ through different aspects of – specifically, but not
exclusively - Italian design. We anticipate papers which will look at, for
example, textiles, cars, ceramics, fashion, homeware etc.
This event accompanies MoDA’s current temporary exhibition, Woven
Splendour : Italian Textiles from the Medici to the Modern Age, which
features a selection of fabrics from the collections of the Museo del
Tessuto, Prato. Woven Splendour includes textiles by Gio Ponti and
Mariano Fortuny, both of whom can be seen as expressing aspects of Italian
identity through their work.
All those interested in participating are invited to submit a brief outline
of their papers to Zoë Hendon ([log in to unmask] ) before October 29th
2004. We are able to offer a small fee to speakers, and papers should last
not more than 45 minutes.
This event is supported by the Design History Society.
****************************************************************************
The Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture is open
Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am to 5pm, and on Sundays 2pm to 5pm.
Admission is FREE.
Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture
Middlesex University
Cat Hill
Barnet
Herts, EN4 8HT
For further information, including directions, details of the museum’s
other activities, events, and research facilities please see the website:
www.moda.mdx.ac.uk, or call 020 8411 5244
|