After twenty years, the 21st edition of the Triennial Exhibition of Decorative Arts and Modern Architecture returned to Milan with a programme entitled "21st Century - Design after Design".
The great event took place from 2 April to 12 September 2016 at many significant locations across the city: from the Triennale to Parco Sempione and the Fabbrica del Vapore, from HangarBicocca to Milan Polytechnic and IULM Campuses, from the Museum of Cultures to Science and Technology Museum, from the Permanente to the Diocesano Museum and the Villa Reale in Monza.
This comeback restores the Milan Triennale in its historical role: to promote innovation and culture, sparking an all-embracing reflection on the current and future evolution of design.
Within this extraordinary event, a central role is occupied by the exhibition “New Craft” conceived and curated by Stefano Micelli, renowned for his commitment in exploring the virtuous contamination between craftsmanship and global economy, promoting design and creativity as competitive Italian assets. The Triennale entrusted the Venetian economist with the task of investigating the relationship between design and craftsmanship, tradition and innovation in the multifaceted territory of today’s savoir-faire.
The exhibition staged in the beautiful setting of the Fabbrica del Vapore presents, in a spectacularly engaging way, the often surprising association between technological innovation and top-level manufacturing. Developed in collaboration with the Cologni Foundation, “New Craft” was made possible thanks to the precious support of the fine watchmaking manufacture Vacheron Constantin, a long-standing patron of artistic crafts in Europe.
The “Mutation” exhibition (starting on 2 April) at the New Craft pavilion was of particular relevance: commissioned by Vacheron Constantin, it celebrated the contemporary interpretation of some precious objects of the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, which have inspired a number of designers and artisans to work together and create a new collection of icons.