Ceramic sculpture of the 4 Totem collection designed by Alessandro Guerriero and produced by Superego Editions. Prototype.
Biography
In 1976 Alessandro and Adriana Guerriero established Alchimia, the first example of manufacturing designers in Milan. In 1978 and 1979 they presented the Bau haus and Bau haus II collections. Lamps, armchairs, chairs, tables, cabinets, and so on. Artists involved: Alessandro Mendini, Ettore Sottsass, Bruno and Giorgio Gregori, Michele De Lucchi, Andrea Branzi, UFO, Paola Navone, Daniela Puppa, Franco Raggi. The prevalent decorative material is laminated plastic. Alchimia’s culture, which is against the Italian design (Casabella magazine) changes the base of all previous design theories, resulting in a profound and radical change in the mindset of architects.
Visual Alphabets, Redesign, Trivial Design, Cosmetics and Sentimental Robot are the slogans underlying the exuberant and vast production of Alchimia city. In the theoretical manifesto of the group, Alessandro Mendini writes “Alchimia is not interested in disciplines because they are considered to be within their rules. Indeed, it is important to look into the existing large free spaces between them. Alchimia weighs the assumption that conception and confused production methods should coexist where craftsmanship, manufacturing, information technology, techniques and current and obsolete materials can get mixed up. “They are handcrafted objects, recycled, mass, improbable, provocative, Kitsch, all very theory-laden. It operates and experiences in many sectors: the Pensione Ideale (Franco Raggi), the Copertine di Domus (Occhiomagico), the Abito Sonoro and the performance of Persone Dipinte (Anna Gili), the Stilismo della Moda (Cinzia Ruggeri). The Neo-modern design, the new Italian design, is born.
In 1981, the Mobile Infinito, due to excess, cancelled both the types and project designers, thus entering into theatrical experiment with the Magazzini Criminali.
The emotional, psychological and anthropological activities expand to books, didactics, video (Metamorfosi) and sounds (Matia Bazar). Alessandro Guerriero is a founding member of Domus Academy in 1982 and in 1984, he began Nuova Alchimia under the brand Zabro. It is Aurelio Zanotta who supports this post-industrial collection.
In 1992, the romantic activity of Alchimia was terminated.
Today he continues his heroic adventure.
About Superego
Superego Editions was born in 2006, performing a constant activity of research in decorative arts by offering both contemporary and vintage works, together with its own limited editions. Superego over the years has produced e made several editions with A. Mendini, a. Branzi, M. Giacon, M. Cibic, A. Mangiarotti, U. La Pietra, etc.
Over the last few years, Superego has also developed its own collection designed by its own studio and signed as Studio Superego.
Studio Superego takes inspiration from an instinctive passion for minerals where approaching the world of crystals means deeply understanding of the beauty and perfection of nature.