The inauguration of the Materdei station, by the Atelier Mendini, continues the artistic underground journey co-ordinated by Achille Bonito Oliva for the Naples Commune. “An obligatory museum visit”, this is how the art critic defined the new stations for Naples’ Line 1 “as passengers must necessarily pass the works of the artists”.

The eye of those arriving from the square is drawn to the coloured glass spire designed by Mendini, which is level with a skylight below, decorated with a mosaic by Sandro Chia. This time, the invited artist is Sol Lewitt who has conceived a large ‘wall drawing’ for Materdei. Beside the lift are four panels by Lucio Del Pezzo. The list of artists involved does not stop here. It continues with Ettore Spalletti, who has made a sculpture, Luigi Ontani who did the panel above the stairs, Domenico Bianchi responsible for the polychrome panelling at the top of the escalator and Luigi Serafini has made a bronze statue, five bas-reliefs in resin and the floor decorations. Lastly, on the walls is a mosaic by the Atelier Mendini. Those arriving from underground are greeted by the serigraphs of seven designers: Mathelda Balatresi, Anna Gili, Stefano Giovannoni, Robert Gliglorov, Denis Santachiara, Innocente and George Sowden.

An overall operation costing 24 million Euros which, with its various ups and downs, lasted 16 years. And which, says the municipal administration, can only improve – by no little measure – the liveability of the entire district.