The collection "Valentina, la donna è mobile" stems from the theories of the Artistical Movement called Radical Design, which began in the Sixties in Tuscany (Italy) before spreading in other parts of the world. At that time, the way of doing architecture and in general of intending design, changed, in fact, "radically". Objects and products were no longer designed in view of their mere function, but were transformed in actual "emotional media" in which to encapsulate ideas, thoughts and yearnings that were, in particular, those of an entire generation.
Thus design became for the first time "radical" in the experience of the pioneers of this new movement of thought: the groups Archizoom and Superstudio, Alessandro Mendini, Gaetano Pesce and Ettore Sottsass (Memphis) and other designers that joined them as years went by.
Influences from the world of Art and Philosophy contributed to the creation of absolutely innovative objects and pieces of furniture, projects and prototypes permeated by a new sense of critique on the function of things, which became critical with regards to a specific epoch.
Guido Crepax (Milano 1933-2003) gives life to his characters in a “radical-chic” environment where on bookshelves would be lined up works of Trotzkij, Kafka and Adorno; one would listen to the Jazz of Jhon Coltrame and attend concerts of famous cellist Pablo Casals. In Crepax’s comics stories there are explicit references to the History of Art of the Twentieth Century "The Avant-gardes", faithfully expressed with remarkable quality in the graphic design. References are made also to the Artistical Movements : Surrealism, Dadaism, Neoplasticism and Pop Art. As well as to the Artists: Renè Magritte, Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, Piet Mondrand, Roy Liechenstain, Andy Warhol... The comics of Guido Crepax have been published in many countries outside Italy, namely in France, Spain, Germany, Japan, Great Britain, United States, Finland, Greece and Brazil.
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