On the occasion of the EXPO theme of ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’, Wallpaper* was invited to showcase a retrospective of gastronomic-themed projects from five years of Handmade. Housed in the impressive Expo Gate (a city centre cultural outpost to the nearby Expo, directed by local art curator Caroline Corbetta), the exhibition was part of a cultural programme connecting the city of Milan with the Expo through variations on its themes.
Echoing both the Handmade exhibition in via San Gregorio (which this year focused on food, drink and entertainment), and the Expo motto, Wallpaper* collected and edited a ‘best of’ foodie projects from five years of Handmade archives. The showcase demonstrated the projects’ great variations within the theme, and gathered a diverse range of contributors ranging from independent designers to furniture and manufacturing excellences.
The exhibition included functional kitchen items such as our dream, cube-shaped rice cooker from artist Michael Elmgreen in collaboration with Solve 3D, a table by Rockwell Group and a kitchen knife set by Perceval and La Contrie. We also presented some of the more playful food items from previous years, such as Patternity’s take on storage for Pierre Marcolini chocolate in collaboration with craftsman Toby Winteringham and Bethan Gray’s sophisticated tableware set made of Lapicida stone marquetry. And given our penchant for the fine art of serving drinks, we had to include Tomas Alonso’s copper barware set with Lobmeyr and two drinks cabinets by Christian Haas and Hosun Ching.
We also presented some of the more playful food items from previous years, such Bethan Gray’s sophisticated Tabletop collection in collaboration with Lapicida and Rothschild & Bickers
Neri & Hu's ‘Wild Feast’ picnic basket, sponsored by Jaguar, inspired by Jaguar Design. The design duo offered a distinctly modern and boldly Chinese interpretation of the classic British item, made from precision-engineered carbon fibre.
Given our penchant for the fine art of serving drinks, the exhibition included the tasting cabinets by Christian Haas in collaboration with Theresienthal, showcasing the beauty of Marquis de Montesquiou's armagnac.
A similarly thoughtful approach was applied by Eindhoven Design Academy graduate Hosun Ching to his drinks cabinet for a vodka lover.
This set of Wine Chillers by Joe Doucet and Neal Feay Studio, from 2013, keep chilled wine cool by trapping air between the bottle and interior of the container, reducing heat loss caused by conduction, convection and radiation.
The exhibition was hosted in the impressive Expo Gate, a city centre cultural outpost to the nearby Expo.
A project from 2010, JIA inc.'s portable picnic plate set combines the company's Eastern sensitivity with a sleek Western aesthetic.
The showcase demonstrated the projects’ great variations within the theme, and gathered a diverse range of contributors ranging from independent designers to furniture and manufacturing excellences.
Titled '5 Years of Gastro Greats', the exhibition collected and edited a ‘best of’ foodie projects from 5 years of Handmade archives.
Directed by local art curator Caroline Corbetta, Expo Gate presents a cultural programme connecting the city of Milan with the Expo through variations on its themes.
To celebrate the opening of the exhibition, Wallpaper* invited a bevy of friends and guests to enjoy a delicious meal.
The set up was an al fresco lunch for 50 by Milanese caterer Serena Barbier held in front Castello Sforzesco. Before diners sat down to eat, waiters were at hand with spicy nuts and a Prosecco Superiore Venegazzù Spritz.
Delights on the menu included an artichoke salad and spinach and ricotta ravioli in sage butter, washed down with wine, beer and coffee galore.
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