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Volumnia is pleased to announce Le forme del tempo, the site-specific project by Italian designer David Dolcini, unfolding in two acts. The first, born as an installation, was placed on the former Sant'Agostino church's forecourt, home to the gallery, in December 2024. The second, a design exhibition within the monumental spaces of Volumnia, will debut on March 29, 2025.
Enrica De Micheli, founder of Volumnia, selected Dolcini as the programme director at the gallery in Piacenza, Italy. The designer, in collaboration with the project's curator, Marco Sammicheli, presents an evolution of his research into forms and archetypes. This journey began a few years ago under the name Timemade. Crafted, shaped, sculpted by time—absorbed, adapted, immersed in the space inhabited by man—this is how Dolcini creates a series of objects with a strong sculptural presence and a subtle poetic pull, intended to evoke an emotional tension in the observer, to trigger a reaction of character and to foster a sense of attachment. Dolcini has envisioned a series of mouldable ideas, grouping them into families (grafts, overlays, tendrils, converts), arranging them in a pathway that aligns with the monumental nature of the exhibition space, starting with the church's forecourt to come closer to the city's community.
The designer's craft is bound by the constraints of function: it responds to requirements, follows the rules and accompanies behaviour. However, this aspect opens the professional duties to unpredictable evaluations, including the realm of sentiment and irrational will: it is the consolatory influence that objects have on people. Dolcini has explored this middle ground, finding not only an expressive workshop but also the foundation for building a relationship with the observer.
The reflection Dolcini embarked upon since 2019 involves the very work of the designer, delving into the roots not only of his origins in the province of Piacenza but also of the craft itself. Through public actions and, even before, in the calm of his atelier, Dolcini has conducted a series of experiments, complex formal exercises focused on woodworking and his sculptural gestures.
The Volumnia project was conceived in 2018 and occupies the spaces of the 16th-century Basilica of Sant'Agostino in Piacenza. Once abandoned and hidden from the public eye, the church now comes back to life thanks to the vision of the gallerist De Micheli, with two decades of experience. The evolving project has become a space for research, where historic design meets art, offering a cultural calendar rich in exhibitions and events where ancient beauty intertwines with contemporary inspirations.
Dolcini has developed an approach to design that transcends boundaries, weaving together international influences thanks to his professional experiences in Milan, Shanghai, Valencia and his studio, DAVID DOLCINI. Since founding the brand in 2007, he has collaborated with prestigious global entities such as Luceplan, Porada and Panasonic, where his technical mastery has merged with a profound sensitivity to materials.
His design philosophy is a journey that unites multidisciplinary analysis with direct experimentation, resulting in works that tell stories of innovation and beauty. Several of his projects have received international awards and recognition and have been exhibited at Triennale Milano and other renowned design institutions worldwide. As an Ambassador of Italian design, Dolcini continues to develop projects from a global perspective.
Sammicheli is the curator of design, fashion and craftsmanship at the Triennale Milano and the director of the Museum of Italian Design. As supervisor of the International Exposition, he has represented Triennale Milano at the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris since 2018. He has curated exhibitions for an array of museums and galleries, has written monographs and contributed to several thematic publications. He sits on the boards of ITS Academy, the Magistretti Foundation, the Cirulli Foundation and the Paolo VI Collection. He teaches at the Catholic University of Milan, where he leads a research project on design for the sacred in collaboration with the Vatican Museums.
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