Nemea
"Simplicity is the most complicated thing in the world." Vico Magistretti
Nemea is an "inverted lamp" that, as Magistretti said in an interview released to Modo in 1979, is perhaps born of the intention to invert the usual terms of a lamp that envisage a small base and a generous reflector. Therefore, it has nothing to do with theorising on the "form of usefulness" but with changing the perspective and redesigning an object that assumes different functions.
This table lamp consists of a white-painted metal base on which a chrome metal stem is inserted, which is topped by a small white porcelain shade. The downward flow of light is reflected on the diffuser-base that doubles as an object tray.
Produced by Artemide in 1979, Nemea, followed the design of the Kuta lamp only one year later, modifying its elements but changing around its positions and functions.
The play of light created by the diffusion of the permanently screened light source, combined to a simple concept often based on a range of geometric shapes are the constant design elements that, albeit in a multitude of variations, are the common denominator of the lamps designed by Magistretti for Artemide and Oluce
Metal, porcelain. White
G. Gamberoni, Incontro con Vico Magistretti, in Casa&Giardino 104, marzo 1980
F. Frontini, Prego, si accomodi sulla bellezza, in Epoca 1713, 05 agosto 1983
[senza titolo], in Interni 346, dicembre 1984
Vico Magistretti, un designer che progetta con la mano sinistra, in Il Mobile 11, giugno 1986
V. Magistretti, Bozza di articolo su lampada inversa per MODO, 1979
V. Magistretti, Punto di fuga: Vico Magistretti, una lampada inversa, in Modo 22, settembre 1979
Beppe Finessi, Vico Magistretti, Mantova, Corraini 2003, pp./nn. 59
Fulvio Irace, Vanni Pasca, Vico Magistretti architetto e designer, Milano, Electa 1999, pp./nn. 145
Vanni Pasca, Vico Magistretti. L'eleganza della ragione, Milano, Idea Books 1991, pp./nn. 81