Interview with Domitilla Dardi, designer, teacher and curator
The MAG 10/22
INTERVIEW by Cristina Morozzi
Ph: Serena Eller Vainicher
The fourth edition of innovative design fair Edit Napoli – the first edition of which was held in 2019 – was inspired by the “idea of doing beautiful things”, says Domitilla Dardi, curator of design at MAXXi in Rome and professor of History of Design for the three-year degree and master’s courses at the European Institute of Design.
Ph: Serena Eller Vainicher
“This was the idea of mine and of a friend, Emilia Petrucelli, an engineer and finance expert who was eager to change her life. And 13 years ago she and her friends Marianna Lubrano and Maria Rosaria Vuccia opened the MIA Home Design Gallery in Rome, which is a gallery dedicated to a refined selection of art and design and which has quickly gained popularity.”
“After attending three editions of Miart, Emilia wanted to create a curated fair and not just a commercial one. So together we decided to define a clear scope, taking a cue from Petrini’s Slow Food concept. We wanted to offer slow design in a small exhibition, with a maximum of 70 exhibitors, convinced that “less is more” and with a special selection of designs that each have a story behind them. And this upcoming edition from October 7-9 shows that our original idea really worked”.
CM:
Has Edit Napoli grown over the past four years?
DD:
It’s not just the numbers that speak for themselves, but the consensus of the press, which has written numerous articles on us since the beginning of this adventure. Our success is also due to the charm of Naples, which is a city that had never really become part of the inner circle of the design world.
CM:
Can you give us a sneak preview of the upcoming edition?
DD:
Visitors will see Michele de Lucchi with Antonia Jannone’s Gallery with two exhibitions: Colori di base at Studio Trisorio, and Casette delle Pezetelle at Edit. Factory will feature Piet Eineke, who will be curating his own exhibit. Allegra Hicks will present a tapestry on display at the church of Saints Filippo and Giacomo. Patricia Urquiola will be showing the conclusion of her plant-human hybridization project. Proceeds from the sale of the prototypes will be used to renovate the old gardens of Capodimonte high school.
CM:
What is Edit’s mission beyond this event?
DD:
We want to create and strengthen the relationship between designers and artisans, creating sales channels, in the belief that innovative designs can also be marketable. We want to put theory into practice by also offering consulting services. That is why Edit is not just an exhibition of unique pieces, but of ongoing series. Young people are also invited to exhibit not only prototypes, but also objects they produce.
