Uncategorized
Gucci Exhibition | Bamboo Encounters: The Creative Language of Bamboo
Apr
The Gucci Exhibition | Bamboo Encounters is organized by the interdisciplinary research department 2050+ and founder Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli to honor the long-standing heritage of bamboo in design history, as well as its presence in the DNA of Gucci. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Chiostri di San Simpliciano (Milan) as part of the Fuorisalone 2025 event, the exhibition showcases a range of bamboo creations by contemporary designers and artists from around the world.
The Gucci Exhibition | Bamboo Encounters is inspired by Gucci’s creative approach to craftsmanship in the mid-1940s when they began using bamboo to create handbag handles, notably the iconic Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag. In the following decades, bamboo has become one of the most celebrated legacies of the Italian fashion house, symbolizing much more than just a decorative detail. Throughout Gucci’s history, this material has followed a unique path, assuming various roles and meanings that inspire art, culture, and design. The exhibition builds on this rich heritage, exploring the enduring impact of bamboo and how it continues to connect the past with the present.
Some notable works at the exhibition include Swedish-Chilean artist Anton Alvarez, who honors the natural shape of bamboo with the sculpture “1802251226.” Palestinian architect, artist, and researcher Dima Srouji presents “Hybrid Exhalations,” showcasing bamboo baskets containing handmade glass accessories. The Dutch design group Kite Club, consisting of Bertjan Pot, Liesbeth Abbenes, and Maurice Scheltens, introduces “Thank you, Bamboo,” a series of kites made from contemporary materials and bamboo. In “Scaffolding,” Austrian designer Laurids Gallée demonstrates creativity with bamboo through his resin plastic design pieces. French artist Nathalie Du Pasquier explores the correlation between bamboo and silk with her work “PASSAVENTO.” Designer and artist Sisan Lee combines traditional Korean aesthetics with contemporary techniques in her aluminum creations titled “Engraved.” Finally, the duo Eugenio Rossi and Yaazd Contractor transforms bamboo into a light installation artwork, reflecting tradition and modernity with their piece “bamboo assemblage n.1.”
