Italian Passion: The Art of Espresso
(Passione italiana: l’arte dell’espresso)
Sea World Culture and Arts Center
Nanshan, Shenzhen
From December 5, 2025, to January 4, 2026
A historical journey through the aesthetic and technological evolution of one of Italy’s most beloved symbols in the world: coffee
The all-Italian passion for espresso is at the heart of an exhibition that traces the evolution of the design of coffee-related objects over the past decades. After successful stops in Europe, the United States, and Brazil, the exhibition arrives in the Nanshan district of Shenzhen, a city in southern China.
40 pieces — including domestic and professional espresso machines, coffee sets, and cups — are showcased in the exhibition Italian Passion: The Art of Espresso (in Italian Passione italiana: l’arte dell’espresso) at the Sea World Culture and Arts Center (SWCAC) in the Nanshan district of Shenzhen, from December 5, 2025, to January 4, 2026, on the occasion of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World (in Italian Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo).
Historical objects and unique pieces, selected by curator Elisabetta Pisu, illustrate the evolution of coffee production and consumption over time and highlight how the social significance of this act— deeply intertwined with the Italian lifestyle—has grown in the collective imagination.
As underlined by Valerio De Parolis, Consul General of Italy in Guangzhou: «Coffee represents a universal symbol of Italian identity, capable of telling the story of our history and cultural heritage. Bringing this exhibition to Shenzhen—recognized by UNESCO as a City of Design and a benchmark for innovation and creativity in China—means celebrating a passion for quality and research, long
standing hallmarks of Made in Italy. Presented on the occasion of the tenth edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, ‘Italian Passion: The Art of Espresso’ explores how, over the decades,
design has interpreted and enhanced the social ritual of espresso coffee. A tradition that continues to renew itself and inspire over time, symbolizing Italian creativity, conviviality, and innovation. »
The exhibited objects trace the historical evolution of the past two centuries — from coffee makers born from the creativity of great designers, which have become true icons of their time, to more recent pieces resulting from technological innovations that have profoundly transformed production processes and raised quality standards. The exhibition highlights a continuous pursuit to improve technology, the ergonomics of the objects, and the experience of consuming one of the world’s most beloved and widespread beverages.
«Innovation, creativity, and design – explains curator Elisabetta Pisu – have accompanied the evolution of espresso machines, coffee makers, and tableware, establishing espresso coffee as a social and cultural ritual — a symbol of Italian identity and Made in Italy excellence. Through these objects, we embark on a journey through time that allows us to understand how habits, gestures, rituals, and the emotional significance associated with coffee have evolved. »
Produced and organized by IMF Foundation and EP Studio, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou.
The Exhibition: Two Centuries of Design and Innovation
The 40 objects on display bear the signature of some of the greatest masters of Italian and international design, alongside the most prominent Made in Italy brands. These are authentic masterpieces of design iconography that have defined an era, resulting from a thorough reinterpretation of form and function.
The journey moves from the Oggetto Banale: Caffettiera by Alessandro Mendini, presented at the 1980 Venice Biennale, to the special edition of the iconic Bialetti Moka Express, designed by Dolce&Gabbana and plated in 24K gold, transformed into a true work of art that blends fashion and design.
It continues with creations that mark the intersection of architecture and design, such as Aldo Rossi’s La Conica and La Cupola, which elevated the domestic moka pot to a small tabletop building, and Michael Graves’ Tea & Coffee Piazza set, a significant example of postmodern design. Also featured are domestic coffee makers by Richard Sapper, Ossidiana by Mario Trimarchi, and Pulcina by Michele De Lucchi, all produced for Alessi, alongside the Caffettiera Napoletana 90018 and the Prototipo di latta by Riccardo Dalisi.
This evolution runs parallel to deep technological research, especially in professional espresso machines for bars, with historic brands represented by models such as the 1920 Insuperabile by Snider, the ’50s Marte and Mercurio by Faema, and the 1958 Granluce by La Cimbali — all from the collection of MUMAC, the Coffee Machine Museum of the Cimbali Group.
Elisabetta Pisu, curator
Elisabetta Pisu is a design curator with a background in sociology and cultural management. Her research focuses on contemporary design in relation to production processes, social significance, and the evolution of new expressive languages. Objects, environments, and architecture are at the center of her studies, aimed at investigating the changing role of design in contemporary society. In 2016, she founded EP Studio, which is dedicated to the conception, organization, and curation of international design exhibitions, with particular attention to the promotion and dissemination of Made in Italy. She has collaborated with important cultural institutions and curated exhibitions in prestigious museums, including the Craft + Design Centre in Canberra (Australia), the Design Museum Gent (Belgium), the Cube Design Museum (Netherlands), the Design Museum Holon (Israel), the Museum of Craft and Design (San Francisco, USA), the MODA – Museum of Design Atlanta (Atlanta, USA), the L. A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art (Israel), and the COD – Center for Openness and Dialogue (Albania).
OBJECTS ON DISPLAY
• Coffee makers, espresso machines, and coffee sets
• Coffee maker Moka Express, Alfonso Bialetti, 1933-2025
• Espresso coffee maker Nova Express, 1947-1950 ca., Irmel
• Espresso coffee maker La Signora, 1960, Meazza & Masciadri
• Neapolitan coffee maker, 1970-2023, Ilsa
• Espresso coffee maker 9090, Richard Sapper, 1979, Alessi
• Espresso coffee maker Accademia, Ettore Sottsass, 1980, Lagostina
• Oggetto Banale: Caffettiera, Alessandro Mendini, 1980, Alessandro Mendini Archive
• Tea & Coffee Piazza, Michael Graves, 1980-1983, Alessi
• Espresso coffee maker La conica, Aldo Rossi, 1984, Alessi
• Espresso coffee maker Carmencita Serie Oro, Marco Zanuso, 1985-86, Lavazza
• Espresso coffee maker La cupola, Aldo Rossi, 1988, Alessi
• Neapolitan coffee maker 90018 and Tin prototype ‘Cuore e stelle’, Riccardo Dalisi, 1987-2022, Alessi
• Espresso coffee maker King Edition, Matteo Thun, 1989, WMF
• Sugar Bowl 90024, Aldo Rossi, 1989-2022, Alessi
• Coffee cups ARDT, Aldo Rossi, 1991-2022, Alessi
• Espresso coffee maker Ottagono, Aldo Rossi, 1993-1994, Alessi
• Espresso coffee maker Mach, Isao Hosoe, 1993, Serafino Zani
• Espresso coffee maker Zazà, Silvana Angeletti and Daniele Ruzza, 1997, Guzzini
• Coffee cups illy Art Collection, 2002-2022, illycaffè S.p.A.
• Coffee cups Mediterraneo, Marta Laudani and Marco Romanelli, 2002, Driade
• Tea & Coffee Towers, Jean Nouvel, 2005, Alessi
• Espresso coffee maker Pina, Piero Lissoni, 2006, Alessi
• Coffee set Estetico Quotidiano, Alessandro Zambelli, 2008, Seletti
• Espresso coffee maker Ossidiana, Mario Trimarchi, 2014, Alessi
• Espresso coffee maker Pulcina, Michele De Lucchi, 2015, Alessi
• Espresso coffee machine Diva, Andreas Seegatz, 2015, Bugatti
• Espresso coffee maker Lunika 360, Francesco Fusillo, 2015, Fi.MA
• Coffee set Collar, Daniel Debiasi and Federico Sandri, 2016, Stelton
• Espresso coffee maker Lady Anne, Laura Caffi, 2017, KnIndustrie
• Espresso coffee machine Tiny, Angelica Rella and Florian Seidl, 2018, Lavazza
• Coffee cups Lume, Federica Biasi, 2020, Nespresso
• Coffee maker Moka Express Carretto Siciliano, 2022, Bialetti – Dolce&Gabbana
• Espresso coffee maker Aladina, Cino Zucchi, 2023, Lavazza
• Lever espresso machine, 2023, La Pavoni
• Espresso coffee machine ECF02, Raffaella Mangiarotti and Matteo Bazzicalupo, 2023, Smeg
• Coffee maker Moka Express Oro 24K, 2023, Bialetti – Dolce&Gabbana
Professional espresso machines – Collection of MUMAC, the Coffee Machine Museum of the Cimbali Group
• Insuperabile model, F.lli Snider, Milan, 1920
• Mercurio model, Faema, Milan, 1948
• Marte model, Faema, Milan, 1950
• Granluce Milan, La Cimbali, Milan, 1958
EXHIBITION CREDITS FOR PASSIONE ITALIANA: L’ARTE DELL’ESPRESSO
Produced and organized by IMF Foundation and EP Studio, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou.
Concept and curation by Elisabetta Pisu
Address: Sea World Culture and Arts Center, Nanshan, Shenzhen
Glass Gallery, 1F, Sea World Culture and Arts Center, 1187 Wanghai Road, Shekou, Nanshan, Shenzhen From December 5, 2025, to January 4, 2026
Opening: December 5th from 5:30 PM
In the presence of
Valerio De Parolis, Consul General of Italy in Guangzhou
Elisabetta Pisu, curator
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