reading time: 7mins
Last Wednesday I finally went on another - not boring this time - first date with this all spicy southern guy who seems to be on - the right - track, he planned almost everything and showed up filled with good manners and a good sarcasm and honestly I couldn't help but wonder "what's more to serve?".
And the answer is in the title: Milan Design Week!
He planned a series of events to go check out with me regarding architecture, digital spaces, light games in installations and more.. and to be honest we really liked them all.. but what a better time to shoot some pics and talk about it on The Sfag?!
Neutra designs balanced with marble
We started out by visiting Neutra Palm Flower installation close to known - for the gays - district Porta Venezia; featuring Neutra Bathtub, basins and benches.
The Palm Flower is a striking residential building, located on the 'trunk' of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. This is the last remaining plot to be developed on the two-kilometre stretch of land, making it one of the most exclusive new addresses in the city. The building takes the form of a blossoming palm flower; cantilevered balconies with rounded slab edges resemble layers of overlapping white petals.
Residents access the double-height lobby via an elevated drop-off at the front of the building. This creates a sense of arrival and allows for uninterrupted views across the water. Private lifts take residents directly from the lobby to their own apartments which span the entire floorplate. The expansive living spaces are framed against a backdrop of sea and sky.
As residents step into their homes, the interior design transitions seamlessly from dark to light.
The rich, dark colours and materials used in the basement, corridors and lifts act as a foil to the light-filled spaces at the tips of the petals. The main living spaces are double height, with glazed facades that open out to views of the Dubai bay.
The apartments feature a library at mezzanine level and a private pool on every balcony.
The basement provides dedicated spaces for residents to showcase their car collections, with bespoke lighting illuminating every vehicle. It also includes luxury lounge areas for entertaining guests and hosting motor display events. Water features around the edge of the building are made from dark stone to enhance reflectivity.
The reflection of the building's white petals in the water makes it an integral part of the landscaping, which features local species.
"Developed in collaboration with NEUTRA, our bathtub, basin and bench are inspired by the architectural form of Dubai's Palm Flower.
Carved out of one piece of solid marble, the bathtub resembles a floating petal on the surface of the water. With fluid lines and polished contours, it blurs the line between sculptural artwork and functional object".
Check out the gallery or visit Neutra designs here :
They gifted us with a tote bag too - that i then lost while dancing to the DJ..- definitely loved the marble quality and couches materials that mixed with marble chairs or supports, great 9/10!
Kia Designs featuring artists worldwide
We then proceeded to the Kia Designs art gallery situated in Milano Porta Nuova, which explained at the entrance that in 2023,
Kia Design told our story through the Opposites United Exhibition during Milan Design Week.
A small community of participants shared their responses and thoughts.
This year's exhibition will, however, will place the focus on the topic rather than Kia Design's own voice playing the role of a vessel that channels a broader spectrum of expression and interpretation.
Check out the gallery here:
Rather than a monologue of our own, we want to learn and evolve through dialogue and conversations from people in different fields - a cautious but bold move to elevate our creative culture.
Therefore, as a collective, the performers, artists and exhibition planners will join together in creating a unified and cohesive exhibition. Those who participated last year will also be able to demonstrate their creativity and take an active role.
The Daily Dense Dance Desiderio
The fundamental quality that propels us into new realms of existence is courage. It acts as the driving force that enables us to progress, serving as the vector through which events unfold and develop within us. This space signifies every step we take, where each step embodies both risk and opportunity. It represents the juncture where past and present converge, paving the way for the future to unfold.
This sentiment is beautifully captured by Ricardo Benassi in the "Daily Dense Dance Desiderio." It paints a vivid picture of hands fluttering, beckoning towards ecstasy and surrender, while legs move in sync with the rhythm. The pixelated grain symbolizes a wave that merges images, encapsulating the evolution of technology along with its inherent virtues and principles.
Within each of the 365 messages penned by entities viewing themselves as machines or machines assuming human traits, there is a concerted effort to capture that fleeting moment on the dance floor. It's that moment of interruption where thoughts arise, creating a space for contemplation amidst the pulsating energy of dance.
The Spirit of Disco
Kia design invites us to venture into an imagination unbound by limits, where every horizon we encounter begins from the paths we've already charted. It's towards these horizons that the gate is always open, marking where reality appears to dissolve. There's a deeply human quality in understanding where we're headed, yet the horizon also gifts us with the foresight to anticipate and pursue our future with unwavering determination, akin to a drop of water persistently wearing down even the toughest rock.
Anna Galtarossa, in "The Spirit of Disco," urges us to revisit ancient tales, drawing wisdom from ages past. She encourages us to seek answers from the elements around us—the wind, the mountains, even the humble plankton—asking, "Who am I?" Dance, then, becomes a tool of disintegration and renewal, a means to recall our essence and reclaim our place in the grand dance of existence.
Finite and Infinite installation
The notion of "harmony" stands as a fundamental concept, essential for our understanding and experience. It's through these connections and resonances that new dimensions open up to us, creating infinite spaces for exploration. This mirroring between ourselves and the world forms the pulsating core of our every movement—a dream of delving into a realm teeming with interconnectedness.
LedPulses: In Dragon Universe and performances by CTM
LedPulse's "Dragon Universe" embodies the act of creation from nothingness, reminiscent of alchemical ideals such as the golem, homunculus, or android. Enter DragonO, a technological marvel—a neural network of lights that not only simulates thought but also manifests phantasmic images akin to holograms through the synchronized arrangement of thousands of LEDs. It encapsulates humanity's age-old aspiration: constructing finite realities from an infinite array of possibilities.
Watch the brief performance here:
The 17.04 Performance by CTM showcases the innovative fusion of tradition and modernity by Danish cellist, singer, and composer CTM. In this performance, Led Pulse's stage serves as the arena where the artist's dual pursuits can harmonize, bridging the gap between tradition and contemporary expression. It's a space where opposing forces converge to create something entirely new and captivating.
So what do we say at TheSfag to Mr.Southern who took me on this date filled with magnificent installations and led pulses games between modern art and marble furniture?
Im pretty sure we are giving him a FULL YES, approved! And he can kiss really good too LOL.
Dearly, Mike.
I'll keep you updated soon!