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The Many Faces of Italian Genius

16th Nov 2006, 17:30 GMT

To begin with a bold statement, by some estimates 60 per cent of the Western world's treasures are found within Italy's borders. Another estimate claims Italy exports 45 per cent of the world's luxury items. These are astounding figures. Then again, to anybody who has been to Italy, these figures are not surprising. This "geographic expression," as it has been described, is a giant museum of fine living. Many are familiar with much of what Italy is famous for - the fine arts, film, fashion, furniture, architecture and music, its world renowned culinary heritage: espresso, wine, cheese and gelato. The list is endless. Its sports culture, littered with international accomplishments, should not be dismissed, either. However, there is another side of Italy that does not get as much attention: the artful ability to create works from a cold, uninspiring element of the post-industrial age - steel! Italy is not only a purveyor of the finer, sweeter things in life, but is equally an innovator in life's harder, sharper elements. Italy brought its industrial and manufacturing base to new heights during the 20th century. By applying creative and elegant design to industrial machinery, mainly in the cities of Torino and Milano, Italy quickly distinguished itself in the post-war years as a dominant global trendsetter in industrial and manufacturing design. Today Italy ranks seventh in the world in industrial and manufacturing output. It is a nation that conceives performance in both man and machine. The Futurist Art movement is a marvelous example of this. For those bemoaning today's global, mechanized cookie-cutter approach to manufacturing, look no farther than Italy; it is home to hundreds, if not thousands of companies, family dynasties, and small shops devoted to the craftsmanship of the forgotten art of small details. Metal? Steel? These are not things we usually associate with Italy. When we think about Italy our mind conjures up romantic and picturesque images of sandy beaches or world-class ski resorts. Steel, and its efficient application thereof, normally brings to mind other economic powers like Germany, Britain, France, Japan and the United States. Italy? Really? Really! It is a side of Italy that people often pay little attention to, but in Italy's list of industrial engineers and technicians, one can find some of the world's most famous names in manufacturing. These include Olivetti, Piaggio (makers of the iconic Vespa scooters) in airplane design, Beretta (pistols), Ducati (motorcycles), and Campagnolo, Bianchi, and Columbus Steel (bicycles). High performance sports cars are, of course, synonymous with Italy's fascination with speed. The country has earned a racy reputation with the likes of Alfa Romero, Maserati, and Ferrari to name a few. But design does not begin and end with form in Italy. In all aspects of manufacturing it includes all the tiny pieces of metal that create the whole machine-cranks and blocks, hydraulic lifters, cam shafts, bearing caps, breaks and gear boxes, and countless other parts. They are not your run-of-the-mill machine-shop components that make a car go - they are high quality works of art that complement the design geniuses of Gio Ponti, Pinifarina, Zagato, Michelotti, and others. They are not just cars. They are "involved in both the civilization of the machine and of the image," as commentator Alberto Abruzzese put it. Nor does innovation end with moveable parts in an engine. It includes aerodynamic designs -- found in bicycles for example -- and the manufacturing of the materials that go with it - carbon fibre, titanium, exotic steel and aluminum alloys. In the land where the Etruscans, Romans, and Renaissance Humanists once lived, Italy was among the first European nations to offer its engineering know-how in space exploration through the Italian Space Agency. Together with NASA, the Italian Space Agency takes part in various development projects - the ultimate recognition of Italy's presence in the post-industrial age. After enjoying a fine Italian lunch recently, the French-Canadian restaurateur casually remarked that Italians did not just invent espresso coffee, but in doing so they invented the machine to perfect it. They also make the knives and metalwork to cut their culinary creations; they produce the machines to perfect the shoes, gloves, and countless other items. Even in the production of olive oil Italians have created machines to ensure the highest quality of oil is made. They are, in today's global economy, fully integrated artists. Alessandro Nicolo - the hack with a knack - is a freelance writer and sedentary bon vivant living in Montreal.

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