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The Second Life design exhibition debuted in Piazza San Fedele, at the heart of Milan Design Week 2024. Titled 10 alberi per 10 totem d’autore (10 Trees for 10 Designer Totems), this exhibition emerged in response to the devastating storm that ravaged the city on July 25, 2023, leading to the loss of over 5,000 trees.
Curated by designer Nicoletta Gatti, the project was integrated into the Milan Design Week 2024 program. Its objective at the design fair was to spotlight a pertinent contemporary theme: the intricate relationship among individuals, urban landscapes, and nature.
"The cycle of nature never ceases," asserts the curator, reflecting the enduring philosophy guiding her design approach. Many of her endeavours stem from a desire to breathe new life into objects, preserving their intrinsic beauty and memories. For this design installation, the theme of recovery and second life serves as the common thread weaving through the collective effort.
The genesis of this initiative dates back to August of the previous year when Nicoletta Gatti secured trunks from fallen trees through a tender process initiated by the Municipality of Milan. Subsequently, the municipality embarked on a fundraising campaign, Milan for Trees aimed at restoring the city's greenery post the calamitous event.
Revitalising felled trees not only fosters community engagement but also heightens awareness regarding the factors contributing to such large-scale atmospheric disturbances. Simultaneously, it endeavours to heal Milan's scars through art, culture, and the city's enduring appreciation for beauty. The project's guiding principles include reverence for nature, respect for roots, and a sense of belonging.
These trees, emblematic repositories of Milan's historical memory, experience a renaissance courtesy of the creativity of 10 handpicked designers: Alessandra Baldereschi, Elena Salmistraro, Federico Peri, Francesco Meda, Giulio Iacchetti, Marco Piva, Mario Trimarchi, Nicoletta Gatti, StudioPepe, and Zanellato/Bortotto.
Through the showcased totems, the cyclical nature of life finds expression in various narrative tones, painting a labyrinthine path that delineates an abstract realm wherein generosity and vitality echo the primal essence of trees.
Following the conclusion of Design Week, the totems will find a new home at the ADI Design Museum, where they will be exhibited and subsequently auctioned in September. A portion of the proceeds will be channelled back to the Municipality of Milan via the Milan for Trees initiative, dedicated to reforesting areas impacted by the storm's devastation.
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