The most significant innovation of this new edition is the public opening of the “Chilometro della Conoscenza”, in collaboration with the Villa del Grumello Association and the Antonio Ratti Foundation, which hosts the Contemporary Design Selection of the festival. Located near the center of the city of Como, Chilometro della Conoscenza brings together, through 15 hectares of centuries-old parks, various architectures such as greenhouses, chapels, lemon groves, and docks where, much like a dispersed kunsthalle, the setups of projects selected by Giovanna Massoni will find space. This creates a new, widespread exhibition path, immersed in greenery and overlooking the shores of Lake Como.
Alice Pilastre, Mathilde Tinturier, Andy Farrow. Photo by Emmanuel Crooÿ
On display are a series of objects in dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and technology, arcane forms and innovation, in search of a fertile and never nostalgic connection between past and present, with the desire to rediscover the local artisan heritage but lightening it from the weight of tradition, eliminating the superfluous and updating techniques and materials in the name of sustainability.
Participants in the sixth edition: 9+1 (JP), Alice Pilastre (FR / BE) + Mathilde Tinturier (CH) + Andy Farrow (UK/BE), Anton Burdakov (UA/UK/DE), Atelier Nuanda (IT), Atelier Serruys (BE), Atelier Versi Linien (FR/IT), Biancodichina (IT), Caterina Frongia (IT), curaa studio (IT), Dora Stanczel (FR) + pietre trovanti (IT), ENEI (CH/AR/ES), Guto Davies (UK), Hana Hillerová (CZ), Ilaria Marelli (IT), Inessa Hansch (BE/FR), Jean-François D’Or (BE), Jonathan Bocca (IT), JOYH (AT), Marie-José D’Aprile (CH/IT), Marike Andeweg (NL), Marino Secco (IT), Marta Lavinia Carboni (IT), Millim Studio (IT), Paulina Herrera Letelier (CL/IT), Philippine Aprile Mandillon (FR), RAAD Studio (ES), Sarah Carestia (BE), Sjang Niederwieser (NL), Studio Gunther Pfeffer (DE), Studiointervallo (IT), Studio Yellowdot (HK/TR), Szostak Atelier (PL), Temperanza by Ilaria Bianchi x Spazio Giallo (IT), Ye Sul E. Cho (KR/UK/CAN)
Giovanna Massoni. Photo by Jean Pierre Gabriel
This thought translates into three thematic clusters. The first imagines a subtraction of weight, materials, processes, and structures that determine the lightness of the object, but also a reduction in weight and impact on the planet. A second cluster is dedicated to agile, transformable, foldable, transportable, multifunctional, and adaptable objects. The third thinks about spaces of light: light is lightness par excellence when its function is not only to illuminate but also allow natural or built space to transcend materiality and generate visual epiphanies and emotions.
CONTEMPORARY
DESIGN SELECTION
Chilometro della Conoscenza
Como, via Per Cernobbio 11
15-22 September 2024
10 am - 7 pm