carlo mollino
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biography
Carlo Mollino was born in Turin, Italy, in 1905. He died in Turin in 1973.
A designer, architect, photographer, writer, skier, driver, and aeroplane pilot, Mollino was part of the lively cultural environment in Turin, between the two wars, where he made friends with personalities in the world of culture and art. Together with his meticulous technical training, which paid particular attention to functional aspects, in his projects there was always crosstalk between elements of modernity and a considerable sensibility for the past. From 1933 to 1973, the year when he suddenly died, he made a total of only about ten architectural works.
selected museum exhibitions
The survey exhibition L’occhio magico di Carlo Mollino. Fotografie 1934-1973, was presented at Camera, Turin, in 2018. Solo shows by Carlo Mollino have been mounted at Gagosian Gallery, New York (2014); kaufmann repetto, Milan (2013); Salon 94, New York (2012); Galleria civica d’arte moderna e contemporanea, GAM, Turin; Castello di Rivoli, Rivoli (2006). His work is part of the collection of the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Brooklyn Museum, New York; Vitra Design Museum, Basel.
shows at Kaufmann Repetto
Carlo Mollino: Polaroid, 2013, solo show at kaufmann repetto Milan
Carlo Mollino: Casa del Sole, 2007, solo show at kaufmann repetto Milan
Carlo mollino (b. 1905 Turin – 1973 turin)
Retrospective exhibitions
2018
L’occhio magico di Carlo Mollino. Fotografe 1934-1973, CAMERA – Centro Italiano per la Fotografa, Torino, curated by Francesco Zanot
2006
Galleria Civica d’arte Moderna e Contemporanea, GAM, Turin, Castello di Rivoli, turin
1990
Nederlands Architectuurinstituut, Rotterdam
1989
Mole Antonelliana, Turin
CNAC – Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
Selected solo exhibitions
2014 Polaroids, Gagosian Gallery, New York
2013 Polaroids, kaufmann repetto, Milan 2012 The Lattest Chair, Salon 94, New York Carlo Mollino, Mollino Pharmacy, Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, United Kingdom, Fulvio and Napoleone Ferrari curators 2011 Carlo Mollino’s Intimate Universe, Kunsthalle Wien project space, Wien, Austria
2009 Sebastian+Barquet, London A occhio nudo: l’opera fotografca 1934-1973, Museo Nazionale Alinari, Florence 2007 Mollino: Casa del Sole, francesca kaufmann, Milan
2006 Salon 94, New York Photology, Milan Selected
selected group exhibitions
2020 Vent’anni – Twenty Years, 20th anniversary exhibition, kaufmann repetto, new york
2017 Nights in White Satin, SAGE Paris, Paris
2016 Aufschlussreiche Räume Interieur als Porträt, Museum Morsbroich, Leverkusen
2015 ED RUSCHA MIXMASTER, Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli, Torino
2014 Shit and Die, Palazzo Cavour, Turin, curated by Maurizio Cattelan Soft Material, Wallspace, New York Tefaf, Maastricht
2011 D’apres Giorgio, Casa Museo Giorgio de Chirico, Rome, curated by Luca Lo Pinto Flight, QBook, London
2008 ITALICS: Italian art betweeen tradition and revolution 1968-2008, Palazzo Grassi, Venice, curated by Francesco Bonami Cohabitation: 13 artists and collage, francesca kaufmann, Milan
2007 Project for a Revolution in New York, Matthew Marks Gallery, New York
2006 Salon 94, New York MAXXI, Rome
Discursive Biography
1905 Carlo Mollino born on May 6th,1905
1931 Graduates as an architect. He chose architecture having already studied engineering for several semesters.
1933 Mollino’s frst photographic portraits of women. The photos are taken in Mollino’s apartment, Casa Miller. In the same year, his frst architectural design is built: the headquarters of the farmer’s association of Cuneo. Mollino’s frst novel The Life of Oberon is printed in serial form in the magazine “Casabella”.
1936 A series of photographs are taken, including the now famous “fairytale for adults.”
1937 His architectural masterpiece is built (now destroyed): the building of the Turin Equestrian Axsociation.
1939 He takes a series of photos to illustrate technical innovations in downhill skiing, developed by his friend Leo Gasperl. 1943 A photo of the bedroom for a “peasant house in a rice feld” is published in the magazine Domus.
1946 The house ‘M3’ is built. Workroom – bachelor apartment. Lift station at Lago Nero is built.
1947 Casa del Sole in Cervinia is built.
1948 The Chinatore publishing house in Turin publishes his book Architecture, Art and Technology.
1949 Mollino becomes Professor of Decorative Arts in the faculty of architecture at the Turin Polytechnic. The Message from the Darkroom is published by Chiantore, Turin, containing 16 of Mollino’s photographs.
1950 Designs molded plywood furniture for a touring exhibition in the USA. Some of these items are now in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum, New York. He designs the auditorium for the Italian Broadcasting Station RAI in Turin.
1954 Becomes Professor of Architectural Design in the faculty of architecture at the Turin Polytechnic. He designs the OSCA 1100 car.
1955 Designs the “Bisiluro Damolnar” (or “Nardi”) car. 1959 Designs the interior of the Lutrario nightclub In Turin.
1964 Wins the competition for the Turin Chamber of Commerce.
1965 Wins the competition for the Royal Theatre in Turin.
1973 Takes part in the competition for the FIAT administrative center in Candilo near Turin. Dies on August 27th 1973.
Education
Carlo Mollino earned a degree in Architecture from Politecnico di Torino.
Selected public collections
CNAC – Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris Victoria & Albert Museum, London Brooklyn Museum, New York Centre Candadien pour l’Architecture, Montreal Vitra Design Museum, Basel Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, Montreal Museo Alinari, Florence