——A “Debate” among Sino-Italian Designers in Florence
In the afternoon on July 21, local time in Italy, the First Shanghai-Style Culture and Design Innovation Forum of “Shanghai & Florence-The Season for Creation of Two Cities” was held in Shanghai & Florence -Sino Italian Design Exchange Center constructed by DOBE. Chinese and Italian designers gathered in Florence for a debate.
“Shanghai & Florence- The Season for Creation of Two Cities”, the Italy part of Shanghai Design Week, is a 4-month event of Shanghai Design Week this year for promoting Shanghai design industry overseas. It’s jointly sponsored by China Corporate United Pavilion for Expo Milano 2015 and Shanghai & Florence -Sino Italian Design Exchange Center. The “First Shanghai-Style Culture and Design Innovation Forum” was undertaken by Shanghai-style artistic furniture brand A-Zenith. As a member unit of Sino Italian Design Exchange Center, A-Zenith donated a batch of representative furniture design works to Sino Italian Design Exchange Center (Florence Base) for long-term display.
Florence Municipal Government’s representative Mirko Dormentoni, Florence Mayor’s Special Counselor Simone Tani, Florence General Chamber of Commerce’s Vice Chairman Curia Mario, ADI Compasso d’Oro Tuscany District’s Vice Chairman Stefano Follesa, Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center’s Managing Deputy Director and Professor of Art History and Theory Gao Chunming, Shanghai Furniture Association’s Secretary General Xu Guanrong, A-Zenith Future’s Board Chairman and Chief Designer Gao Wei, and other guests attended the forum.
The forum was presided over by Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center’s Managing Deputy Director and Professor of Art History and Theory Gao Chunming. 6 artists and designers, including famous European designer Mr. Giuseppem Mincolelli, Architectural Design Professor Vincezo Alessandro Legnante from the University of Florence, ADI Compasso d’Oro Art Adviser Mr. Antonio Pascale, A-Zenith Future’s Board Chairman and Chief Designer Gao Wei, Prof. Ma Quan from Academy of Arts and Design of Tsinghua University, discussed the specific application of Shanghai-style culture and art in architectural space design, art education, Eastern and Western lifestyle, and other fields.
At the forum, Mr. Gao Chunming announced that Shanghai- style furniture making technique was officially listed in Shanghai Protected Intangible Cultural Heritage List by Shanghai Municipal Government. As an inheritor of Shanghai-style furniture making technique, Mr. Gao Wei said A-Zenith not only would inherit Shanghai-style crafts, but also would spare no effort carrying out Shanghai-style art promotion and protection programs nationwide and worldwide.
As a part of the A-Zenith Day of China Pavilion for Expo Milano 2015, this forum gathered outstanding designers from China and Italy, further facilitated Sino-Italian economic and cultural exchanges, and promoted the application of Shanghai-style art and design innovation to a new height. Architectural Design Professor Vincezo Alessandro Legnante from the University of Florence commented that eastern culture brought more design inspirations to the West; eastern culture and design ideas were indispensable in art education; the fusion of Chinese and western styles in furniture design showed extraordinary charm.
“Shanghai & Florence-The Season for Creation of Two Cities”, the Italy part of Shanghai Design Week, aims to take advantage of the Expo Milano and the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy to popularize the corporate culture, economic development and design innovations of China and Italy in multiple dimensions, and build a higher and bigger exchange platform for Chinese enterprises to “go out”. It’s reported that the event will last to Sept. this year.