Frame 07-08

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Add a touch

of theatre

‘YOU WILL FIND out what it’s for’, the host
at Studiopepe’s Milan Design Week show
told incoming guests while handing over a
small paper cone. It was the first of various
mysterious encounters between visitors and
the peculiar personalities that presented
themselves inside the material-rich rooms
of Les Arcanistes – The future is un/written.
A silent and slowly dancing man, his head
painted white, poured an aromatic drink into
the paper cones, while elsewhere a young
woman served herbal distillates in a labora-
tory-like environment. After descending the
stairs to the basement, where the floors were
entirely covered in salt, a final character

• the arcanas – invited guests to join him
  around a table filled with objects to partici-
  pate in a personal divination experience.
  Adding a layer of theatre to an exhi-
  bition can be risky, but Studiopepe managed

to get it just right. The show didn’t become

theatrical, nor did the actors overshadow

the showcase of products. In fact, the gentle

engagement with the crowd added to the

overall atmosphere and perception of the

objects on display. There was a certain sense

of tranquillity that prevailed in the spaces,

reinforced by the coherency of the aesthet-

ics and the use of soothing but unexpected

colours and materials. Studiopepe partnered

with a multitude of brands and studios,

including Atelier Areti, Ceramica Bardelli,

Tacchini and Cassina, to carefully curate

each setting. The resulting show demon-

strated how studios and companies can

successfully merge the commercial with the

conceptual – giving overstimulated design

week visitors a well-deserved break from

the buzz while at it. – FK

studiopepe.info

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