Surface Matters: 47 Photographs by 26 Artists at Mutina Showroom

Curator Sarah Cosulich transformed the Mutina showroom in Fiorano, designed by architect Angelo Mangiarotti, into an exhibition space for 'Surface Matters,' blending CEO Massimo Orsini's personal photography collection with the company's ceramic tiles. The show features 47 works by 26 artists spanning Man Ray, Richard Prince, Robert Adams, Robert Mapplethorpe, Luigi Ghirri, Wolfgang Tillmans, Cindy Sherman, Thomas Demand, Luise Lawler, and Zoe Leonard, among others. Cosulich aimed to create a dialogue between photography and design, art and commerce, using surface textures as a unifying theme. The juxtaposition of images with ceramic surfaces amplifies their impact: Francesco Gennari's small print gains power from optical tile patterns, Thomas Demand's work acquires sacredness against a dark slab, and pieces by Matthew Barney, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, and Jochen Lempert interact with the environment. The exhibition runs at MUT – Mutina for Art in Fiorano, 2018.