16 April 2009

So Buono!

This exhibition explores Melbourne's sister-city relationship with Milan

Born out of the unique sister-city relationship and strong cultural links between Melbourne and Milan, the ‘So Buono! A cultural feast’ exhibition will showcase the latest work from emerging Italian and Australian craftspeople and designers.

“As a project of design interchange and exchange the So Buono! exhibition seeks to create a design laden cultural feast,” says curator Marisia Lukaszewski.

The exhibition will showcase an array of design and craft, ‘morphing’ the design cultures of the two cities in a dining room environment – featuring furniture, lighting, tableware and fine craft.

“All the works have been curated with the premise of creating a sense of place(s), cultural reflection, ideas, memories and assorted other relevant issues prevalent in design commentary today,” says Lukaszewski.

Lukaszewski hopes the exhibition will bring the sister cities closer, encouraging further exchanged of ideas, the creation of new business opportunities and the building of international relationships.

The first presentation in Milan is the result of a close collaboration between Lukaszewski and Nhow Hotel’s art director Elisabetta Scantamburlo. A number of Milanese designers have been invited to design the dining room, with Australian works dressing the table.

The Melbourne presentation will be the reverse – Australian designers creating the furniture, lighting and visual art, with selected Milanese designers dressing the room.

The exhibition kicks off next week in Milan and the second presentation in Melbourne will be part of the State of Design festival in July.

Australian Artists:

John Hoogendorn Ruby Studio
Iris Saar Issacs/Jane Barwick InSync Design
Stuart McFarlane
Lisa Oaten/Claire Selby Studio Periscope
Beatrice Schlabowsky
Andrew Simpson Vert Design (hero image)
Suzie Stanford (DQ Top Ten)
Malcolm Thomas

Italian Artists:

Gum Design
Marcello Pozzi
Anna Ramasco
Vibrazioni Art Design (puff image - chairs)

sobuono.com