After a 20-year hiatus, Milan’s design museum returns this year, with the same mission as when it was created in 1933 — to create seminal exhibitions that define the design zeitgeist of the era. Having lost relevance to the juggernaut of the ever-growing Salone del Mobile, this year the institution is working in tandem with the fair, timing the opening of its own exhibitions and Salone-related installations with the trade show. Alongside exhibitions on new living spaces, jewelry and a haunting exploration entitled “Neo Prehistory,” Silvana Annicchiarico, the director of the Triennale, offers “W. Women in Italian Design”: a dense overview of the often-overlooked contributions of Italy’s female designers and artists, powerfully anchored by Carla Accardi’s painted tent.
Viale Emilio Alemagna 6, Milan, April 2-Sept. 12
Marni Ballhaus
A cumbia party
Marni’s headquarters are transforming into a public ballroom to present a new collection of furniture woven with rainbow combinations of PVC cords, all crafted by a grup of women in Colombia. Professional dancers and cumbia lessons pay homage to the furniture’s origins, and traditional-style circular skirts and men’s neckerchiefs — made from vintage Marni fabrics — will be available for aspiring dancers to wear — and for sale on Marni’s website, to fund the Vimala children’s association.
Viale Umbria 42, Milan, April 14-16
Fattobene and Pijama x Papier Tigre
Design you can take home
Fattobene, a new web site dedicated to the design of everyday objects from Italy’s past, is setting up shop at a Brera installation celebrating italianità (Italianness), selling forgotten but gorgeously designed classics like Eritrean perfumed papers and an archive-printed notebook from Tassotti. Elsewhere, Pijama and Papier Tigre, two design companies dedicated to colorful desktop items, have united to create a notebook and pochette in a bright take on camouflage that will be on sale at their Isola showroom and on Pijama’s website.
Fattobene: Via Palermo 1, Milan, April 12-17
Pijama e Papier Tigre: Via Pastrengo 11, Milan, April 12-17