Milan has always been part of my life and my family’s—the Trussardis’—history. And in the last 15 years, Milan has been strongly connected with the activities of the Fondazione Nicola Trussardi. It is a city with a dynamic energy. It is here that you find the perfect mix of Italian history and lifestyle: a strong cultural heritage; the best of the “made in Italy” productions in fashion, design, and food; a dedication to research and innovation; and the most visionary contemporary art spaces. I think of Milan as a “concept city,” where ideas can become reality. It is the place to be in Europe right now.
During miart and Salone del Mobile, the city becomes the heart of the world. All the most important international design and art players come to town, organizing presentations, exhibitions, events, parties. I’m especially looking forward to solo shows of Matt Mullican at HangarBicocca; Barry X Ball at Castello Sforzesco and Villa Panza; “The Szechwan Tale: China, Theatre and History” at FM Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea; and “But a Storm Is Blowing from Paradise: Contemporary Art of the Middle East and North Africa” at GAM. There are also the performance PRISMA by Alessandro Sciarroni and Masbedo at Triennale Teatro dell’Arte; Christian Marclay at Museo del Novecento for Fondazione Furla; and the exhibition “Sol LeWitt: Between the Lines” at Fondazione Carriero, a new jewel in Milan.
Photo by Julian Haergraves.
For design, I’ll be checking out the new design districts like Ventura Centrale, close to the Central Railway Station, and Piola with Le Dictateur; the exhibition “Typecasting: An Assembly of Iconic, Forgotten and New Vitra Characters,” curated by Robert Stadler for Vitra at La Pelota; and “Souvenir Milano,” the project curated by Raffaella Guidobono at the Brera Design Apartment.
For sustenance between events, previews, and openings, I recommend the three restaurants by Carlo Cracco: the brand-new Cracco, the recently opened in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a stone’s throw from the Duomo; the trendy Carlo and Camilla in Segheria; and the chicca Garage Italia Customs, on the top floor of the former AGIP service station recently renovated by Michele De Lucchi.
Photo by Paolo Valentini and Andrea Rossi.
And try for a walk around in the Porta Venezia district, between Via Malpighi and Via Melzo, where you can find a lot of small artisanal shops, tiny bookstores, flower markets with a Parisian flavor, tea and spice
boutiques, perfumeries . . . Every shopkeeper offers a very personal selection of products after years of traveling and researching. At Fondazione Nicola Trussardi, I’m excited to say we’ll be presenting Jeremy Deller’s Sacrilege, a major outdoor installation by the celebrated British artist, curated by Massimiliano Gioni. I hope to see you there, or around Milan this week!
—Beatrice Trussardi
President of the Fondazione Nicolas Trussardi
Courtesy of Salone del Mobile.
