An Ultraleggera Exhibition on Marcello Gandini

Images: Hajer Al-Sayed (@_artistqa), Nada Abdo, Gautam Sen

On October 9, 2023, Marzia Gandini Provera, speaking for her father Marcello Gandini, presented ‘Moving Interiors with Marcello Gandini’ at the Future Design Forum during the Geneva International Motor Show in Doha, Qatar.

Organized by Simone Carena (VCUarts Qatar) and Dr. Alkindi Aljawabra (Qatar Auto Museum), the Forum aimed to discuss the future of design across various fields.

Marcello Gandini's message, delivered by Marzia, encouraged young designers to dare, innovate, and reject repetition, criticizing luxury car makers for relying too much on nostalgia rather than genuine creativity. He urged a balance between business realities and creative dreams.

Following the lecture, discussions with the editor of Car Design News, James McLachlan, Dr. Aljawabra, and Carena revealed plans for an ambitious Master Class on space and design led by the late design legend for students at VCUarts Qatar.

This collaboration can be traced back to a pandemic-era project where Carena introduced Gandini's Countach at the 2021 Gwangju Design Biennale in South Korea, symbolically challenging pandemic hardships through design.

Their relationship deepened after Carena sent Marcello Gandini a Korean kite homage, eventually leading to projects in Qatar, including a video trailer and masterclass materials. Sadly, the maestro passed away last year on March 13.

But an exhibition titled ‘Ultraleggera: A Design Journey with Marcello Gandini between Italy & Qatar’, debuted on 22^ndApril last, at the Qatar National Museum, as part of the Qatar Creates art initiatives, as a homage to the design legend.

Inaugurated by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in a sublime ceremony, the installations were constructed by the students of VCUarts Qatar, under the supervision of Simone Carena, who also led the curation of the display with Marzia Gandini Provera.

Yours truly provided the narration to the exhibition as well as most of the images, many of which can be seen in my recent book Marcello Gandini: Maestro of Design Revisited.

Incidentally, a copy of the book was also on display, and a copy of it was presented to Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani by yours truly.

There is no doubt that Marcello Gandini is widely regarded as one of the most remarkable automobile designers in history (Marcello Gandini: At The Cutting Edge Of Automotive Design).

His profound impact on automotive design defined the latter half of the twentieth century and continues to influence the industry today.

Gandini’s body of work ranges from iconic vehicles like the Lamborghini Miura and Maserati Quattroporte IV to more accessible models such as the Audi 50/VW Polo, and the extraordinary Cizeta V16T. His portfolio includes some of the most significant cars ever created.

What truly distinguished Gandini was not just his ability to craft striking, iconic designs, but also his inventive spirit. Often compared to Leonardo da Vinci, Gandini introduced pioneering innovations, from the invention of scissor doors to redefining the very methods of car design and production. His contributions revolutionized automotive design, ergonomics, and manufacturing.

The Ultraleggera exhibition focuses on Gandini’s lesser-known or overlooked innovations and visionary concepts, while briefly acknowledging his more famous designs that shaped automotive history.

It also sheds light on the second half of his career, a period when practicality and functional design became his priorities over pure aesthetics.

Visitors will get the opportunity to embark on an immersive journey into Gandini’s creative world, exploring his visionary approach, passion for innovation, and relentless drive for fresh ideas.

The exhibition aims to highlight key milestones of his revolutionary projects and connect Gandini’s enduring legacy with the present and future, inspiring new generations of designers.

That spirit seems to have been captured by the twelve young women who developed a series of brilliant student projects, each reflecting key aspects of Marcello Gandini’s design concepts and philosophies.

Inspired by Gandini’s commitment to lightweight design and social responsibility, the students used modern materials and innovative manufacturing processes to bring their ideas to life.

Translating Gandini’s design principles into interior spaces – specifically the sitting room, or majlis, as it is known in Arabic – and designing games for families to enjoy within that space were among the creative directions explored.

Their beautifully crafted scale models are now on display alongside images, illustrations, and models by the late design legend himself.

If you’re in Qatar over the next one month (Ultraleggera runs until June 3), be sure to visit the exhibition.

And if not, you’ll have another chance to see it at the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile (MAUTO) in Turin, starting from June 19.