gwenael nicolas' 'monde parallèle' installation set inside the historic bagatti valsecchi mansion

set within the historic bagatti valsecchi museum – a neo-renaissance style mansion in the heart of milan – gwenael nicolas of tokyo-based curiosity studio has presented ‘monde parallèle’ for the occasion of milan design week.

the exhibit explores the concept that redefines the value and meaning of ‘furniture’ with a series of abstract and sculptural pieces that can be easily reconfigured into functional living objects: sofas, consoles and tables.the juxtaposition of the abstract and contemporary pieces against the historic background works together to create an unexpected and intimate exhibit. the idea takes the most representative and iconic elements of an interior such as sofa, consoles, dining tables and introducing a new dimension in design: time. embodying a japanese-influenced approach, the transformable furniture is defined by its simplicity and their unique textures, surfaces crafted by italian and artists from japan.

the exhibition has been created as an interior to be experienced and a story. the use of lighting has been used to emphasize the atmosphere of metamorphosis which characterizes the ‘domestic’ spaces reproduced by gwenael. the whole presentation reveals itself and transforms itself using a system of lighting created by barbara balestrieri in collaboration with flos: special light systems based on the concepts of ‘invisible’ and ‘visible’. using wall lights which envelop the vertical totem, light rays spread out from the cuts of the wall lights through gradual and mechanical opening of the vertical lighting elements.