Milan Design Week has come to a close, so today, we’re bringing you our final roundup of notable exhibitions, installations, and collections we saw last week.
Max Mara and Safilo debuted their latest collaboration. Inspired by the volcanic landscapes in places like the Hawaiian Islands and the island of Stromboli, “Lavaprisms” is a collection of futuristic sunglasses designed by artist Kerstin Brätsch and UNITED BROTHERS collective. The limited edition 1000-piece collection features a strong geometric design with a flat top and rimless lenses.
© Andrea Pisapia.
Hermès presented its latest collection for the home in the Museo della Permanente. Displayed in a space designed by Charlotte Macaux Perelman and Alexis Fabry, the collection includes an assortment of objects, furnishing fabrics, wallpapers, home textiles, and furniture that focus on the way color interacts with the home universe.
Apparatus’s “Act III” marks a first for the design studio, exploring creative director Gabriel Hendifar’s own cultural history. At the heart of the collection is an intricately inlaid Persian Khatam style box brought to the United States by Hendifar’s grandmother, a political refugee from Iran. “Act III” serves as a tangible tribute to the Islamic Revolution, as well as Hendifar’s own family tree.
Courtesy of Fondazione Prada.
Fondazione Prada celebrated the completion of their Milan venue with “Atlas,” an installation held in the recently finished Torre tower. The installation filled the six exhibition levels of the Torre with works that showcased past ideas and visions of the foundation. “Atlas” featured both solos and confrontational exhibits between artists like Carla Accardi and Jeff Koons, Edward Kienholz and Nancy Reddin Kienholz, and more.
Sony’s “Hidden Senses” presented a multi-sensory experience for visitors, challenging the constraints and preconceptions between technology and human behavior. The exhibition was composed of five case study rooms: Echo, Under the Light, Tactile Object, Abstract Electronics, and Day & Night. Each featured engaging interactions that gradually revealed the ways in which design is applied to technology.
Courtesy of Lexus.
Atelier Swarovski dazzled with “Swarovski Palazzo,” a site-specific installation of lighting and chandelier design. Not only did this custom-built greenhouse showcase the latest collaborations with names like Peter Pilotto, Marjan Van Aubel, and Nendo, but it included a pop-up shop and confectionary treats by Swarovski’s own Daniel’s Café.
In commemoration of its 50th year in the ready-to-wear business, Ermenegildo Zenga hosted an exhibition in the historic Casa Zegna in Trivero, where their first wool mill was opened in 1910. The exhibition, “UOMINI ALL’ITALIANA 1968,” featured a series of period outfits, vintage materials, and photographs from the archives that depicted the brand’s journey from a successful textile business to a significant name in ready-to-wear.
Marni La Vereda, Milano
The colors of Columbia were present in Milan with Marni’s La Vereda. The collection includes a selection of bright, handmade chairs, baskets, home accessories, and more that were created in collaboration with communities in Columbia. The collection was inspired by the small settlements of sharing found in rural areas of Columbia—Las Veredas. The exhibition featured performances by Columbian songwriter Absalón Sinisterra, and a portion of the profits raised during Salone del Mobile were donated to La casa Sull’albero, a project aiding the fostering and adoption process in Milan.
Lexus presented the Lexus Design Award 2018 Grand Prix winner during Milan Design Week with the exhibition “Limitless Co-Existence.” The exhibition space was created by Japanese designer Sota Ichikawa and featured the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept. Each year the Lexus Design Award celebrates the brand’s constant search of ways in which design can change the world by celebrating new designers who use their talents and ideas to aid in building a better future.
Courtesy of Max Mara.
