analecta romana instituti danici xxxiv - Det Danske Institut i Rom

The Georg Jensen and Alessi Design 25Fig. 3. Alessandro Mendini, Tea and Coffee Towers2003 (photo: Alessi).Fig. 4. Wiel Arets, Tea and Coffee Towers 2003(photo: Alessi).This means that the connection between formand function has high priority with Scharff,which, however, is not always the case withHenning Koppel’s and Kim Buck’s design.It is difficult to pour from Koppel’s pots, andthe bevelled tendrils in Kim Buck’s basketare too sharp-pointed for it to function asa fruit basket. Even though function is importantin Georg Jensen’s design it does notnecessarily determine the form.The philosopher Gianni Vattimo generallyconsiders works of art as monumentalprecipitations of human experiences,claiming, therefore, that all works of art arememories. The power of monuments is theirability to communicate traces, and therebymemories, to future generations. 14 This alsoapplies to design. Alessi’s latest series, “Teaand Coffee Towers” for the dining table,holds a reference to the twin towers of theWorld Trade Center in New York. Historically,towers are cultural symbols of power.But when towers are moved from the socialsphere to an intimate sphere, they geta new meaning. Through the “Tea and CoffeeTowers” project, the designers try to displaytheir personal view of the world, whereform no longer follows function but ratherfollows memory. The designer AlessandroMendini is in search of the origin of designin his contribution (Fig. 3). In his project hehas collaborated with a wood carver. Thehand marks are made plain (elucidated) inthe objects. The tea pot reminds of a mixturebetween an abstract bird with a silverbeak and an urn. But in this project there