Italian Innovator Fornasetti Retrospective Includes Furniture, Textiles, Paintings by Jada Graves A private collection of late artist Piero Fornasettiís innovative work is currently being presented in ìLa Follia Pratica,î now at the Italian Cultural Institute. Although Fornasettiís work has been shown in conjunction with other artists, ìFollia Praticaî marks his first solo exhibit and showcases items never before seen in the United States. The exhibit includes furniture, textiles, paintings and drawings. ìWe had always thought of doing something by Fornasetti,î said Michele Giacalone, information officer at the Italian Cultural Institute. ìHe was probably the greatest interior decorator.î Renaissance man Fornasetti lived and worked in Milan from 1935 until his death in 1988, displaying his creativity, among other things, as a painter, sculptor, interior decorator, printer of art books, and creator of stage settings and costumes. During his career, Fornasetti established his own contemporary style based on illusionism and architectural per spectives. He particularly liked the juxtaposition of elaborate themes on ordinary objects and could find inspiration in and add artistic expression to an array of everyday items: hats, waistcoats, pipes, ashtrays, chairs, plates, cabinets, pianos, shops, cars and even ocean liners. Fornasetti also used variations of the sun, playing cards, fish and flowers as recurring themes in his pieces. Fornasetti played with vivid reds, blues and yellows in his work, contrasting them with his black-and-white pieces. One popular theme involves several black-and-white adaptations of a womanís face set against porcelain. In one sketch, clouds surround the womanís face; in others, sheís winking or her face is shrouded with a veil, leaving only her large, piercing eyes. Fornasetti also included imaginative accessories in his works, including a tray in ìMano Continua,î with a hand in a black-and-white silhouette reaching out horizontally, a candleholderówhich holds a drawing of the sun as illuminating as any flameóan umbrella holder in ìOmbrelliî that makes it hard to distinguish between the colorfully drawn raingear and the actual gear, and a paper basket and playing card holder in ìCitt? di Carte,î with an elaborately illustrated city of cards on the cover. However, Fornasettiís ingenuity is truly displayed in his furniture pieces. ìArchitettura,î for instance, is a portable CD rack shaped like a high-rise building complete with steps, stories and windows. ìLuna,î a moon-shaped, bright yellow baby cradle, and ìLeopardo,î a curved chest decorated in leopard print also showcase the artistís unmistakable style and originality. Giacalone and Italian Cultural Institute Director Martin Stiglio, a fellow Milanese, became interested in bringing Fornasettiís work to Washington, especially because Giacalone already knew Fornasettiís son, Barnaba. ìIím a great collector myself, and I knew him personally before,î Giacalone said. ìMy grandfather left me a personal collection of items and I contacted Barnaba Fornasetti.î The Institute started working with Barnaba to create ìFollia Praticaî in January 2002. ìThatís when we started to concretize the idea of bringing the exhibit to Washington,î Giacalone said. After Fornasettiís death in 1988, Barnaba continued manufacturing his fatherís distinctive pieces. ìBasically, what Barnaba has done is brought the fatherís work to the people. Heís made it more widespread,î Giacalone noted. Barnabaís expansion of his fatherís contemporary style has evolved into the 21st century, expanding Fornasettiís handcrafted creations in collaboration with different companies. This has produced a wave of new Fornasetti productsófrom fashion accessories such as ties, scarves and umbrellas to household articles such as china, lamps, fabrics, linen, radiators and tiles. Fornasetti left his items unsigned because he believed in their distinctive quality. Barnaba, however, now creates signed, numbered and dated pieces to distinguish them from earlier versions. ìI think his dedication continues where his father left off,î Giacalone said, ìcontinuing his expression of very sophisticated but whimsical art, which will have a special place in anybodyís house, from ashtrays to furniture.î ìLa Follia Praticaî runs through April 23 at the Italian Cultural Institute, 2025 M St., NW, Suite 610. For more information, please call (202) 223-9800 or visit www.italcultusa.org. Jada Graves is an editorial intern for The Washington Diplomat.