Nanda Vigo, the inner space

Intro. Nanda Vigo, the inner space

This solo exhibition showcases, for the first time in France, the work of Nanda Vigo (1936-2020), an unclassifiable pioneer and key figure of the Italian avant-garde. Through immersive, sensory installations, Nanda Vigo, the inner space takes in architecture, art and design as so many fields of total creation, offering an insight into the importance of the artist’s oeuvre and her research. More than a chronological charting of her career, this exhibition is a sensory experience.

A number of historical environments and interiors, most of them now demolished, have been reconstructed for the exhibition, to offer visitors a real sense of the unique dimension of her work. Playing with effects of transparency and reflection, glass, aluminium, mirrors and neon – her preferred working materials – alter our perception of space and arouse our senses.

As early as 1959, Nanda Vigo began breaking with the established codes to provoke emotions and propose a new relationship with art. Each surface she designs becomes an environment in which to live, act and react. Extremely hard-working, she was continually changing her style while always remaining true to herself, her standards always high, removed from passing trends and fashions of the moment.

In the man’s world of the avant-garde, Vigo’s strong personality and experimental approach won her the respect of big names like Otto Piene, Gio Ponti and Lucio Fontana, with whom she collaborated on a number of occasions. Yet despite what was a remarkable career, like many other women artists and designers her work has yet to gain the recognition it deserves.

Showing Nanda Vigo at madd-bordeaux is an opportunity to grasp just how current her work remains today. Free from the constraints of representation, Vigo pushed the boundaries of space in her life and her work. Her achievements, both experimental and immersive, bear witness to her autonomy of action and thought.

Organised in partnership with Archivio Nanda Vigo – founded in Milan by the artist herself in 2013 – this exhibition is as much a tribute to her work as it is to the figure of Vigo as a woman artist.

Nanda Vigo, chandelier Explorer, Edition Arredoluce, 1971 - Steel structure and cable, mirror glass - Courtesy of Céline Marcato

Acknowledgements

Exhibition curators
Victoire Brun, head of design collection and exhibition projects at the madd-bordeaux
Justine Despretz, Italian design specialist and founder of the Aster Design company

Scenography
Bérengère Bussioz

Highlight
Serge Damon

Poster and visual communication
Anette Lenz

Graphic design
Izaskun Gaspar Ibeas

The City of Bordeaux and the museum would like to thank the institutions and archives that have generously contributed to the exhibition
Archivio Nanda Vigo, without whose support this exhibition would not have been possible
EPFL Pavilions, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, for the generosity of their collaboration and the creation of immersive technological devices that allow you to visit the interior of the house Lo Scarabeo sotto la foglia
Fondazione Lucio Fontana
ZERO Foundation

Our warmest thanks go to all the sponsors, whose presence and support are essential

Château Haut-Bailly,
patron of honor

Barrisol, for the construction of all the stretch ceilings for the exhibition
Sébastien Breteau, for his generous participation
Dedar, fabric editor, for the textile covering of the exhibition seats
Fonds d’Initiatives Lafite, for their generous support
Little Greene et Maison Bouron, for the coloring of the exhibition
Saint-Gobain Vitrage Bâtiment, for the donation of mirrored scenographic elements and their contribution to the materials library

Many thanks to all the lenders of the exhibition
Acerbis / MDF Italia srl
Archivio Arredoluce / Fragile Milano
Galerie Alexandre Guillemain
Stefano Galuzzi
Galleria Luisa Delle Piane
Glas Italia
Gorilla Collection
Clémence et Didier
Krzentowski / Galerie Kreo
Céline Marcato
Luca Preti collection
Ivan Mietton
Nilufar
The Mayor Gallery
ZERO foundation

And especially Francesca and Pietro Cadeo, and the Archivio Nanda Vigo

We would also like to thank Alberto Mattia Martini, author of the interview of Nanda Vigo conducted in 2016

The museum also wishes to thank for their faithful support
Les Amis du madd-bordeaux
Château Nairac
Diva Bordeaux, société de négoce
Intercontinental Bordeaux - Le Grand Hôtel
Keolis Bordeaux Métropole
Les Crus Bourgeois du Médoc
Librairie Mollat - Station Ausone

And all the people and companies who participated for the realization of the scenography
Kévin Bricot, Eliot Blachon, George Castillo, Philippe Dubard, Perrine Flamain, Charles-Hubert Morillon, Nicolas Treupel, Toni Soatto, Andrea Zacchetti, the technical department of Bordeaux Métropole, the technical department of the Bordeaux conservatory, the technical department of the Base sous-marine, the Zebra 3 team
And more specifically the company Ufacto

As well as the people who have contributed with their help and advice to the success of this this exhibition
Enrico Acerbis, Jérôme Charrade, Kaisha Davierwalla, René Diverchy, Sandrine Dujardin, Olivier Gisiger, Carine Guérin, Marie Haineville, Christine Hourdé, Sarah Kenderdine, Renata Knes, Barbara Könches, Anne-Gaëlle Lardeau, Raffaele Marco Lotito, Marco Meneguzzo, Marco Flò Meneguzzo, Luca Meneguzzo, Luciana Meneguzzo, Valeria Napoleone, Alessandro Padoan, Marco Poma, Luca Preti, Allegra Ravizza, Jean-Baptiste Roure, Federica Sala, Adam Štech, Diane Suzler, Patrizia Tenti, Alexandre Valluche, Marion Vignal, Maria Villa and Rebecca Welkens