On 13 March, Palazzo Borromeo, headquarters of the Italian Embassy to the Holy See, hosted the event entitled “La qualità che illumina: l’energia del design per le persone e per l’ambiente” (Enlightening quality. The energy of design for people and environment), organised to celebrate the 7th edition of the Italian Design Day (IDD).
The event – opened by the Italian Ambassador to the Holy See, Francesco Di Nitto – was moderated by Elisa Anzaldo, Central Editor-in-Chief of RAI TG1, and was attended by representatives of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Ministry of Culture. Speakers included Paolo Conversi, an expert on integral ecology from the Secretariat of State of the Holy See; architect Renata Cristina Mazzantini, curator of the exhibition “Contemporanei a Palazzo Borromeo. Arte e design nell’Ambasciata d’Italia presso la Santa Sede” (Contemporaries at Palazzo Borromeo. Art and Design in the Italian Embassy to the Holy See); Davide Groppi, CEO of Davide Groppi s.r.l.; Franco Caimi, CEO of Caimi Brevetti S.P.A.; Carlo and Giovanna Castiglioni, President and Vice-President of the Achille Castiglioni Foundation respectively; Margherita Pellino, Head of the Vico Magistretti Foundation; Giampaolo Grassi, ANSA journalist and author of a book dedicated to Francesco Binfaré, one of Italy’s leading designers.
The event was organised to celebrate the 7th edition of the Italian Design Day, together with similar initiatives held in 112 countries around the world. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has long been active in the promotion of Italian cultural excellence abroad. The Italian Ministry of Culture is also committed to supporting design as a distinctive feature of Made in Italy and as a vector for the dissemination of Italian culture and craftsmanship, also with a view to integrating the languages of contemporary art.
During the event, Renata Cristina Mazzantini explained the contents and aims of the exhibition “Contemporanei a Palazzo Borromeo. Arte e design nell’Ambasciata d’Italia presso la Santa Sede”, promoted by the Embassy of Italy to the Holy See and sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Banca del Fucino, testifying to the dialogue and indissoluble link between design and art as expressions of the creative spirit of Italian culture.
The event was an opportunity to discuss the history and prospects of Italian design, a symbol of quality and excellence, capable of combining the artistic sense of beauty with the functional requirements of objects and their everyday use. The special significance of the relationship between craftsmanship culture, technical ability and research in the development of the creative idea in mass production processes was also repeatedly emphasised: a fundamental characteristic of the Italian industry in this sector, heir to a centuries-old craftsmanship that is appreciated and emulated all over the world. Also highlighted was the relevance of quality as a factor of sustainable development, within a perspective of social responsibility in the use of material resources, labour protection and genuine respect for the environment. The link with the Magisterium of Pope Francis on integral ecology, as a new inclusive paradigm, necessary to give space to a “culture of care”, an alternative to the “waste” subculture, was thus made evident. Interdependence of responsibilities, responsibility of sustainability and sustainability of beauty are, therefore, the three pillars of an ethically oriented action, to create a shared future aimed at the protection of the “common home”, social cohesion and the promotion of culture.
