In the 16th century Chiostri di San Simpliciano, one of the most contemplative corners of Milan, Gucci displays a poetic reflection on one of its most enduring symbols: bamboo. Bamboo Encounters, the new exhibition curated and designed by Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli and his studio 2050+, poses a question that goes beyond design or fashion: how can a natural material pass the test of time and remain contemporary? For the House, bamboo ceased to be just a handle in 1947 with the Gucci Bamboo and became a visual and conceptual language that continues to transform. The exhibition, which you can explore during Fuorisalone from 8 to 13 April, is a living conversation between craftsmanship, technology and cultural sensitivity.
The exhibition brings together diverse voices from different corners of the world who have translated bamboo into sculptural forms, light installations and floating structures. Swedish-Chilean artist Anton Alvarez opens the dialogue with 1802251226, a tribute to the essence of bamboo and water, the driving force of nature. It is followed by Hybrid Exhalations, by Palestinian architect, artist and researcher Dima Srouji, where hand-blown glass by the Twam family and baskets created by anonymous bamboo masters embrace each other without being intended for each other. Kite Club brings a performative touch with Thank You, Bamboo, a series of kites made of ripstop nylon, plastic and duct tape that are propelled by spinning bamboo poles.
Austrian designer Laurids Gallée's Scaffolding, on the other hand, freezes the movement of bamboo in blue resin, while French artist Nathalie Du Pasquier presents Passavento, a return to the folding screen, to the game of concealing and revealing, between bamboo and printed silk. Korean designer and artist Sisan Lee's Engraved captures bamboo metaphorically through relief and intaglio technique, rather than directly on paper. The Back Studio duo Eugenio Rossi and Yaazd Contractor explore the intersection of bamboo and light with Bamboo Assemblage n.1.
Beyond the visual journey, Bamboo Encounters also offers a space to share ideas and thoughts. From 8 to 10 April, Gucci and 2050+ are organising open talks with some of the participating artists and other voices of contemporary design. These meetings seek to open cracks from which to think about the relationship between materiality, history and sustainability.
The exhibition will be open until 13 April. Tickets for both the tour and the talks can be booked online. But beyond the agenda, this is an invitation to stop, walk among the cloisters and appreciate all the forms and expressions of bamboo.
