formafantasma to show at manitoga’s dragon rock with magazzino in upstate new york

The installation Formafantasma at Manitoga’s Dragon Rock: Designing Nature showcases the parallels between the contemporary studio the practices of the midcentury architect of Dragon Rock. Both work with their surroundings to produce a seamless collaboration. Trimarchi and Farresin’s selected works for this installation called for further consideration for the many pre-existing narratives already in conversation at Manitoga — those of the house, of the landscaping, and of Wright’s personal practice.

This thoughtful curatorial process ultimately unearthed a recognition of architecture within their own work which allowed the duo to treat the house not simply as a gallery space, but as a place where their objects might exist in a way that is at once nuanced and seamless.

Vittorio Calabrese, Director of Magazzino (see here) comments: ‘Magazzino is proud to partner with Manitoga / The Russel Wright Design Center for the first time in welcoming the Italian design duo Formafantasma. It’s an honor to work closely with a neighboring institution with whom we share such strong values centered on community, nature and architecture.

‘Marking our third collaboration with a local arts organization, we are excited to welcome Formafantasma to the Hudson Valley, where the designers will create subtle interventions within some the most intimate yet communal spaces at Dragon Rock and enter into a unique dialogue with the work of Russel Wright, the architecture of the house and studio, and its surrounding landscape.’

Allison Cross, Executive Director of Manitoga / The Russel Wright Design Center (see here) continues: ‘The launch of the new Russel & Mary Wright Design Gallery last year (2021) within Dragon Rock at Manitoga opened up new programmatic possibilities, including the opportunity to invite designers along with visual and performing artists to engage in dialogue with Wright’s legacy at Manitoga.

‘Formafantasma and Russel Wright share a broad design reach, across medium and scale, from object to environment, with focused attention to form, materiality and method. Although separated by almost a century, the work of both addresses environmental concerns and asks if design can be a steward of nature and our future…Through partnership [with Magazzino], we look forward to enriching and amplifying the vibrant arts and design community in the Hudson Valley.‘