To commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo, the Salone del Mobile.Milano paid homage to the eclectic Italian Renaissance genius not just in the city but also at the fairgrounds, with an installation that celebrated his work and especially his legacy to the art of design and savoir-faire, in Pavilion 24 from 9th to 14th April.

DE-SIGNO was an immersive installation that married the languages of film and theatrical scenography in an inclusive and exciting way. It housed a show of images and music illustrating Leonardo’s approach to design and the industriousness of the Renaissance workshops and laboratories as related to the savoir-faire and design of contemporary design companies: all under the Italian banner of the art of beauty.

Conceived by Davide Rampello and designed by the architect Alessandro Colombo, the installation occupied a 400 square metre space. It was characterised by a monumental set, dominated by two portals made entirely by hand by master sculptors and painters and inspired by original drawings and original studies by Bramante, the most prestigious architect in Milan during Leonardo’s time.

Inside, two theatre stages standing facing each other depicted perspectival studies of ideal Renaissance cities, Florence and Milan respectively. They were framed by a colonnade of corner pilasters and vegetal festoons in bas-relief running right along the octagonal inner perimeter of the structure, reminiscent of the decorative patterns in the Sala delle Asse at the Sforzesco Castle.

The theatrical set was counterbalanced by 4 cinema-sized screens enveloping visitors in a show of music and images, narrated by the inimitable voice of Diego Abatantuono.

CREDITI
Creative and Executive Production Davide Rampello & Partners

Curated by Davide Rampello
Architectural Project - Alessandro Colombo
Project Manager - Tania Di Bernardo
Set Design - Mekane
Light Design - Aldo Solbiati
Sound Design & Soundtrack - Alessandro Linzitto
Video Content & Editing - Natia Docufilm