While on one hand his long association with the vibrant cultural climate of Milan in the late thirties and after the war was a fertile ground for his special qualities as a designer, on another level there is no doubt that his proverbial sense of rhythm and feel for perpetual variations on a theme, both key elements in the art of improvisational jazz, should be seen as a fiery constant running through his work.
From legendary encounters with Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, to his historic friendship with the renowned musicologist Roberto Leydi, from his ever-present willingness to always give his best, not only in terms of graphics, for the opening of a new ballroom (Sirenella, 1946 ), or for the graphic design of a few jazz magazines (Pace, 1950; jazztime, 1952), or in conceiving the cover for the Encyclopaedia of Jazz (Messaggerie Musicali, 1952), or even for the poster for a jazz festival right here at Chiasso (jazz chiasso weeks, 1985), there are many precious memories left to us by that little-big man Max, all testifying to his great love of the world of jazz.
Indeed, the exhibition Maxieland jazz! endeavours to rebuild Max's jazz-land and provide an opportunity to put the engaging vitality that emanated from his special and joyful creative energy back into circulation.
Giampiero Bosoni
m.a.x. museo
via Dante Alighieri 6
CH 6830 Chiasso (Svizzera)
Mostra a cura di
Giampiero Bosoni
con Aoi Huber Kono
Grafica e Allestimento
Arata Maruyama
Redazione e ricerca
Chiara Lecce e Chiara Mari
Collaborazione
Marco Bonetto
