March 29, 2026, 11:00 am, MIDeC, Lungolago Perabò 5, Cerro di Laveno (VA)
Twelve works from the MIDeC (International Museum of Ceramic Design) permanent collection are reinterpreted by 48 students from the Metadesign Studio Section I3 in Interior Design, under the guidance of faculty members Marco De Santi, Francesca Balena Arista and Irina Suteu. From this work emerge a series of twelve “ceramic environments” that transform the scale of the vase into installations situated between scenography and architecture. Like true “large vases”, these spaces host our contemporary condition – rituals, obsessions, habits, and dreams.
This innovative continuity is reflected in the words of Councillor for Culture Alice Gomiero:
“Collaborating with Politecnico di Milano means building a bridge between heritage and experimentation in "Ceramic Environments", from which the exhibition "Grandi Vasi" originates. Here, ceramic tradition becomes fertile ground for new visions, where the knowledge of the past meets the boldness of contemporary design”.
Alongside the design models, the exhibition presents the works that inspired them, by Antonia Campi, Guido Andloviz, Giorgio Spertini, Piero Portaluppi and Tsygankov Vassilij Nikitovich.
The exhibition path is further enrighed by the Reietti series by Marco De Santi and opens with the collective installation Figura umana nello spazio, composed of ceramic “bodies” created by the students in collaboration with the MIDeC workshop and ceramic artist Irene Cornacchia. The exhibition's title pays tribute to Andrea Branzi’s Grandi Vasi project, documented through drawings and photographs from the Andrea Branzi Studio in Milan.
Opening: Sunday March 29, h. 11:00.
The exhibition will be open: March 29 – June 7, 2026.
Days: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Credits:
Metadesign Studio, Section I3, Interior Design, A.Y. 2025/26, School of Design, Politecnico di Milano
Faculty: Francesca Balena Arista, Marco De Santi, Irina Maria Suteu.
Teaching Assistants: Stefano Gigliotti, Francesca Mannini.
Video Supervision: Francesco Clerici.
Students: Isabella Aletti, Fabio Allievi, Federico Artioli, Caterina Belossi, Martina Bologna, Rebecca Brivio, Camilla Butti, Giulia Cappadona, Oscar Casati, Alessandra Colombo, Silvia De Capitani, Alessandra De Villa, Sara Benedetta Dell’Oglio, Emma Dordoni, Irene Favero, Claudia Anna Pia Ferrucci, Camilla Galbusera, Michele Gargano, Martina Genneretti, Ambra Gentina, Sara Gervasoni, Giulia Gobbetti, Giada La Colla, Ludovica Leuchi, Nica Logozzo, Federica Lusignani, Asia Meroni, Caterina Minopoli, Martina Molteni, Clara Moratto, Lucia Mornati, Stefania Naftanaila, Matyas Pagan, Alice Paravano, Rumen D. Petrov, Vittoria Pettinelli, Agata Piccini, Letizia Pirovano, Elizabeth Provenzi, Alina Riabko, Maria Giulia Restifo, Giulia Soave, Erika Tagliabue, Silvia Tagliabue, Lorenzo Tartarini, Rebecca Zambelli, Sara Zeppellini, Yiwei Zhang.
Production: Municipality of Laveno Mombello.
Concept: Marco De Santi.
Curated by: Francesca Balena Arista, Marco De Santi, Irina Suteu.
With the support of: Francesco Clerici, Stefano Gigliotti, Francesca Mannini.
Project Coordination: Elena Emilitri.
Press Office and Communication: Silvia Pozzi.
Administrative Support: Manuela Bisighini, Laura Bongiolatti.
MIDeC Curator: Chiara Fizzotti.
Exhibition Design: Marco De Santi with Stefano Gigliotti.
Acknowledgments: Andrea Branzi Studio, Nicoletta Morozzi Branzi, Irene Cornacchia, Image Laboratory of the School of Design.
Patronage: School of Design, Politecnico di Milano.