On the 50th anniversary of the flood that submerged Florence in 1966, Luisa Via Roma, the famous Italian retailer, pays homage to the city by presenting 'Design on Water', a new group show held on the city's waterways.
Floating around the Arno River was ‘Bridge of Love’ – an immersive (though luckily not immersed) installation of nine floating cubicles designed by architect Claudio Nardi.
Inaugurated on 14 June in collaboration with Sky Arte HD, the floating exhibition was curated by Valentina Guidi Ottobri of Luisa Via Roma. An ongoing exploration of individuality through the many allegories associated with water, the exhibition also highlighted one of the hot topics in international affairs right now: the plight of immigrants across Europe. Featuring artistic collaborations with big design studios such as Dilmos, Magis, Secondome Gallery, CTRLZAK Art & Design Studio and Bitossi, each artist presented their unique take on water’s oxymoronic symbolism, reflecting on the world’s current happenings.
A plethora of alchemical installations saw art and design fused by CTRLZAK, Lapo Ciatti and Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba; an interactive eco-friendly project by Magis; ethereal light sculptures by Puglia-based artist Daniele Papuli; interesting looking ceramics by Alessio Sarri for Bitossi and Matteo Cibic; and organic furniture designed by Stefano Marolla for Secondome. Across the entire 'Bridge of Love' offering, the viewer was encouraged to experiment with their senses, navigating through perception.
The show was an immersive (though luckily not immersed) installation of nine floating cubicles designed by architect Claudio Nardi. Pictured: Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba’s ethereal sculpture, Heart with Waterlily
The show featured artistic collaborations with big design studios such as Dilmos, Magis, Secondome Gallery, CTRLZAK Art & Design Studio and Bitossi. Pictured: Magis’ eco-friendly interactive piece As Big As A Whale invited viewers to paint the largest animal in the world, the whale, in an original way
An ongoing exploration of individuality through the many allegories associated with water, the exhibition also highlighted one of the hot topics in international affairs right now: the plight of immigrants across Europe. Pictured: Waterness was an experimental workshop created by CTRLZAK Art & Design Studio, which aimed at teaching the viewer a lesson on the value of water
Matteo Cibic’s Lagoona was a ceramic representation of the creatures lurking in the depths of the ocean
These refined sculptures were also presented at this year’s Salone del Mobile as original work for the jewellery brand Dodo
Across the entire ’Bridge of Love’ offering, the viewer was encouraged to experiment with their senses, navigating through perceptions. Pictured: Pack, Stefano Marolla’s installation piece for Secondome Gallery, was a work of movement inspired by draping, waves and dunes
Puglia based artist Daniele Papuli’s etheral light sculptures, Rippled Wave, portrayed the beauty in water’s fluidity
Migration was an installation delving into the themes of the sea and transience, by Bitossi Ceramiche and Alessio Sarri
Lapo Ciatti’s Hope installation was inspired by the literal meaning of the word ’rope’ – an item that provides something to hold on to
INFORMATION
’Design on Water’ ran from 14–17 June. For more information, visit the Luisa Via Roma website
-
Contrast therapy meets neuroaesthetic design at this Singapore spa and bathhouseReap the benefits of contrast therapy, head-to-toe massage and neuroaesthetic spatial design at the Hideaway spa and bathhouse in Singapore
-
Carsten Höller’s new Book of Games: 336 playful pastimes for the bold and the boredArtist Carsten Höller invites readers to step out of their comfort zone with a series of subversive games
-
This revamped east London terraced house is a music lover’s dreamAn east London terraced house gets a boost of personality and sustainability thanks to Archmongers, whose transformation makes room for the owners’ creativity and extensive record collection
-
Remembering Oliviero Toscani, fashion photographer and author of provocative Benetton campaignsBest known for the controversial adverts he shot for the Italian fashion brand, former art director Oliviero Toscani has died, aged 82
-
Distracting decadence: how Silvio Berlusconi’s legacy shaped Italian TVStefano De Luigi's monograph Televisiva examines how Berlusconi’s empire reshaped Italian TV, and subsequently infiltrated the premiership
-
Louis Fratino leans into queer cultural history in ItalyLouis Fratino’s 'Satura', on view at the Centro Pecci in Italy, engages with queer history, Italian landscapes and the body itself
-
‘I just don't like eggs!’: Andrea Fraser unpacks the art marketArtist Andrea Fraser’s retrospective ‘I just don't like eggs!’ at Fondazione Antonio dalle Nogare, Italy, explores what really makes the art market tick
-
Triennale Milano exhibition spotlights contemporary Italian artThe latest Triennale Milano exhibition, ‘Italian Painting Today’, is a showcase of artworks from the last three years
-
Walls, Windows and Blood: Catherine Opie in NaplesCatherine Opie's new exhibition ‘Walls, Windows and Blood’ is now on view at Thomas Dane Gallery, Naples
-
Raffaele Salvoldi stacks hundreds of marble blocks for dazzling Milan installationFor a Milan Design Week 2023 installation, Italian artist Raffaele Salvoldi teams up with marble brand Salvatori to create architectural sculptures comprising hundreds of marble blocks
-
Remote Antarctica research base now houses a striking new art installationIn Antarctica, Kyiv-based architecture studio Balbek Bureau has unveiled ‘Home. Memories’, a poignant art installation at the remote, penguin-inhabited Vernadsky Research Base
