The Salone del Mobile 2019 was as always divided into two parallel strands composed by the official exhibition, open to the industry and trade professionals, and the countless events of the Fuorisalone which, as the name implies, where held in many locations and were open to everyone. In honour of the Fuorisalone, in Piazza Duomo a monumental armchair in the shape of a naked woman’s body was installed, a clear symbol of denunciation against violence and feminicides. The body of the woman, covered in hundreds of arrows, was hosted in the town’s main square for the duration of the Fuorisalone and we are sure that it will hardly be forgotten, especially for contrasting opinions between approval and disapproval that it managed to raise.
Salone del Mobile 2019 in Milan: the installation by Gaetano Pesce
Creating a huge buzz among mass media, the sculpture by Gaetano Pesce installed in Piazza Duomo on the occasion of the 58th Salone del Mobile in Milan sparked much acclaim as well as disapproval by visitors who arrived in Milan from all over the world for the eagerly awaited fair. The Salone del Mobile (9th-14th April 2019) reached its 58th edition this year and will not cease to receive, every year, thousands and thousands of new enthusiasts. Pavilions and events were open to the public and reserved for the professionals, but nothing could hold the comparison with the much-discussed sculpture.
The Salone del Mobile is practically divided into two major exhibitions: the official exhibition that is reserved for the sector’s professionals and the so-called “Fuorisalone,” open to all those who are interested. And representing the Fuorisalone, the monumental sculpture in the shape of an armchair by Gaetano Pesce was installed in Piazza Duomo.
The monumental installation by Pesce for the Salone del Mobile
The monumental outdoor installation by Gaetano Pesce realized for the Salone del Mobile in Milan and the coinciding Milan Design Week was inspired by the Armchair “UP5 & 6“, a famous, iconic object of Italian design and distinctive brand by Pesce and entitled “Suffering Majesty”. The chair is the reproduction of a nude woman’s body pierced by over 400 arrows. The installation, eight meters high, was deliberately provocative and bold because it was considered a denouncement of feminicide and violence and injustice (represented by the arrows) of which women are constantly subjected to by men and society.
Who is Gaetano Pesce?
Gaetano Pesce is a well-known name in the furniture industry. He is an Italian architect, sculptor and designer, class of 1939. He is considered one of the most important exponents of Italian design in the world and his creations are often deliberately provocative and over the top. The monumental installation for the Salone del Mobile in Piazza Duomo was in fact made in the shape of an armchair to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the famous series of armchairs UP, 7 armchairs designed by him in the 1960s in collaboration with the company C&B (now B&B).
Was the sculpture appreciated or not?
Gaetano Pesce’s sculpture was talked about both by the mass media and the Milanese citizens themselves. There are those who were able to appreciate the message including the desired provocation and those who did not appreciate the “denouncement” because, despite the wonderful message, what was used was still the body of a woman, made into an armchair or, if we want, an “Object “. Moreover, many believe that the absence of face and hands was a serious lack, because the violence of man is often directed at these two parts of the body. Feminists did not like the work at all, and it was contrasted by more or less important protests, starting with the harsh criticism on social media.
The Salone del Mobile remains one of the most important fairs in the world for the furnishing sector and every year hosts thousands of visitors from all over the world. Now that you are aware of the events organized for the Salone del Mobile, you just have to buy your tickets for the next edition and admire the most peculiar installations.
