CTRLZAK studio


CTRLZAK is a hybrid studio bordering between art, design and architecture integrating diverse disciplines and forms of expressions. The studio’s creations are based on extensive research into humanity’s cultural history and the natural world in order to encourage contemplation, reflection and consideration of one’s actions in relation to their impact on the world around them.
The studio’s projects and extensive research into tradition and cultural context aims to create a new hybrid future by learning continuously from the past. Each project is approached as a story waiting to be told, with a multitude of forms and endings, aligning with CTRLZAK’s philosophy of “form follows meaning”.
The name derives from the initials of its founders and the computer key combination CTRL+Z, used in standard alphanumeric keyboards to take you a step back. This is precisely CTRLZAK's approach: to take steps forward by always looking back, to interrogate the past in order to project into the future through the present, with awareness.

History

CTRLZAK was founded in the beginning of 2009 in Milan, Italy, by Katia Meneghini and Thanos Zakopoulos. Both Katia and Thanos brought with them their collective global experience as artists and designers to establish the creative, multidisciplinary studio that would bring to life works in creative areas such as product, furniture, exhibition and interior design as well as art direction and artworks. Their creations are inspired by their travels, experiences, and especially the rich background of their cultures, Italian and Greek, respectively.

Selected projects

Following on their historical research, CTRLZAK created the CeramiX Art Collection in 2010, consisting of 24 unique pieces derived from classic Chinese and European plates, bowls, vases and cups. The resulting artworks reflect on the historical production of Chinese and European porcelain and centuries of cross-fertilization between Western and Eastern aesthetics. The project was later on translated for a broader audience, bringing art into everyday life, with the Hybrid project produced by Italian brand Seletti. The objects are graphically divided between east and west, with a colored line marking the boundary between the two styles. The collection looks at the present while reflecting on the irony of history proposing consequently an evocative contemporary interpretation.
In December 2014, in the exhibition Paradigms of a Hybrid World at Spaziootto in Milan, the studio presented an overview of its research on historical hybridization between east and west including the aforementioned projects together with pieces from their Flagmented project and collection designed for rug producer cc-tapis.
Since 2015, they are responsible for the art direction of JCP Universe; an unconventional company between art and design that operates in the sphere of contemporary living. Under the studio's direction the project brought together a number of notable product designers collaborating alongside video makers, theatre professionals, visual artists, writers and other creatives.
CTRLZAK has also dedicated many years in the research of a project named Extincto, concerning human awareness related to issues of species extinction and the loss of biodiversity caused by mankind, mainly in the last 500 years. Following a meticulous research, they analyzed a number of emblematic cases of extinct species and presented them in the forms of artworks and objects showing how species have in many cases vanished as a result of human intervention and ignorance.
In 2018, Form Follows Meaning: paradigms from CTRLZAK studio, a book detailing the studio’s extensive works from 2009-2017 was published.
Current projects in progress include the design direction of hotel resorts, among them the awarded all senses resort in Chalkidiki, Greece, creative direction for design related brands, art exhibitions and the design of objects connected to the sphere of living for various Italian brands.

Recognition

CTRLZAK's creations have been extensively exhibited in art galleries and design fairs around the world and their work has been selected by museums and institutions like MOMA, the Louvre Museum and the Venice Art Biennale, among others.

Selected bibliography

  • Italian Textile Design, Marsilio Editori, 2023, pp.157, 203. '
  • Form Follows Meaning - Paradigms from CTRLZAK Studio, CTRLZAK Books, 2018.'
  • Salone Sattelite 20 Anni di Nuova Creatività, Corraini Edizioni, 2017, pp.109. '
  • The Design-City: Milan: Extraordinary Lab. Forma Edizioni, 2018, pp. 396–399. '
  • Ceci n’est pas une copie. Lannοο Publishers, 2016, pp. 205–207. '
  • La casa morbida. Corraini Edizioni, 2014, pp. 69. '
  • The New Italian Design, Triennale Design Museum, 2013, pp. 45. '
  • Modern Living Accessories 100 Years of Design. H.F.Ullmann Publishing, 2011, pp. 12–13. '
  • Leuchten/ Lighting. Edel Germany, 2009, pp. 38.
  • Möbel/ Furniture. Edel Germany, 2009, pp. 207–208. ''''''