Milan’s annual furniture and design fair, now in it’s 50th year is proving a popular as ever according to an article on yesterday’s Guardian web site.
The Salone Internazionale del Mobile fair has even filled Italy’s underground railway with lots of non-Italian visitors, as noted by one of my students at Il Sole 24 Ore’s business school.
There are 2,700 exhibitors this year and the area around Via Tortona on the south side of central Milan is buzzing with activity, so much so that the area’s residents have been complaining about all the hubbub.
Still, despite unhappy neighbours, the apparent success of this design fair may be proof that the world is finally starting to drag itself free of the long running and problematic global economic crisis.
I’m hoping to be able to find some time this weekend to have a wander around the Via Tortona zone to see what all the fuss is about, and if I go, I’ll be armed with my trusty camera.
Stop reading, start speaking
Stop translating in your head and start speaking Italian for real with the only audio course that prompt you to speak.
Alas Italy Chronicles’ Italian design commentator Paolo Feroleto was unable to make to this year’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile, but he did provide this Italian flavour blog’s readers with a taste of what to expect – which is a lot. There are even a few design fair events in my area of Milan which is quite far off the beaten design track, so to speak.
Art Too!
At the HQ of the Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper and business school, a few examples of design through the ages are on show, and there was an extensive exhibition of contemporary art last weekend too.
Owing to my son being in hospital, I was unable to have a good look round, which was a shame, as there was plenty to see including this artistic comment on Italy’s party loving prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi – yours for around €5,500:
It certainly caught my eye – indeed, I wonder if a certain well-heeled Italian prime minister might buy it for himself. The price is mere small change for him and it is quite fun too.
Milan in Italy is an interesting city and there always seems to be lots and lots going on.
