From humble origins in Cincinnati in 1913, the Formica brand has blossomed. Over more than a century it’s become a household name with inventive iterations across the design landscape.

FORMICA (r)EVOLUTION, at Fenix Scenario, Via Quintillo Sella 1 during Salone del Mobile is a comprehensive accounting of the brand’s influence, “a visual journey from the 1930s to the 1980s, exploring the decades during which Formica® laminates revolutionised the way we live.”

The exhibit is organized thematically by epochs. After encountering an expansive roof made of vivid red paper—a nod to the production of Formica, which involves compressing sheets at high pressure and temperature—visitors encounter “Signature Design,” a who’s-who gallery of objects by luminaries like Gio Ponti and Alvar Aalto.

Next, “Fluid Objects” engages the versatility of the material. Here, we find everyday items like extendable tables, chairs with folding footrests, a TV trolley, and secretary with hide-away storage, “pieces designed to fulfill different functions in environments and spaces that are always evolving.”

Lastly, “The Roaring 60s and 70s reminds us of Formica’s omnipresence. These pieces call attention to the way Formica broke down cultural barriers between fashion, decor, design, and art. The objects inhabit liminal spaces, bringing the vibrant color and asynchronous forms of popular culture into the residential sphere.

FORMICA r(EVOLUTION) also includes a clever sleight of hand. Accompanying the Formica objects, everyday items by Japanese paper designer Yoko Miura seem to be of the typical stuff (ceramic, glass, textiles), but in fact are made of paper—a potent reminder of Formica’s own magician’s trick of converting paper into eminently functional objects that informed cultural attitudes about the look, shape, and feel of design.

FORMICA r(EVOLUTION) is on display through the fair and into the future. It will be at the same location through June 30, open for visits from 10-1 and 2-5. See Formica to find out more.