Bamboo takes centre stage in Gucci's Milan exhibition

Promotion: as part of Fuorisalone, which takes place as part of Milan design week, Gucci has unveiled an exhibition exploring the "enduring legacy of bamboo" within its design history.

Gucci | Bamboo Encounters showcased a series of bamboo-inspired objects crafted by international designers who were tasked to reimagine the material in bold and unexpected ways.

The Fuorisalone exhibition, located in Milan's 16th-century Chiostri di San Simpliciano, was designed and curated by the interdisciplinary agency 2050+ and its founder, Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli.

As part of the exhibition, Dutch design collective Kite Club created a series of kites made from bamboo and contemporary materials named Thank You, Bamboo, while Seoul-based designer Sisan Lee designed a collection of aluminium objects called Engraved, etching traces of bamboo through his printmaking, intaglio technique.

Gucci | Bamboo Encounters also featured 1802251226 – a sculpture by Swedish-Chilean artist Anton Alvarez that pays homage to the natural shape of bamboo – and a series of bamboo baskets with hand-blown glass additions named Hybrid Exhalations by Palestinian architect Dima Srouji.

The Back Studio, led by design duo Eugenio Rossi and Yaazd Contractor created a light installation called Bamboo Assemblage n.1, while Austrian designer Laurids Gallée reinterpreted bamboo through his resin design pieces in a project named Scaffolding.

Finally, French artist Nathalie Du Pasquier contributed with Passavento, which recontextualises traditional bamboo panels with contemporary silk fabrics.

The exhibition was influenced by the fashion house's "innovative approach to craftsmanship" in the mid-1940s. This was when it began to use bamboo for the handles of handbags, including the Gucci Bamboo 1947, which was launched in its eponymous year.

According to Gucci, following the handbag's release, the material quickly became one of the house's most celebrated materials, which symbolised "much more than a design detail".

Gucci explained that bamboo has been used in many cultural enterprises, including art, fashion and design. The exhibition is a bid to recognise its creative heritage and explore how the material's past reflects its relevance today.

"Throughout Gucci's history, the material has traced a unique path, adopting many roles and meanings to inspire the intertwined dimensions of art, culture, and design," said the fashion house of bamboo. "The exhibition builds upon this rich heritage, exploring the lasting impact of the material and how it continues to bridge past and present in ever-evolving ways."

As part of the design week, Gucci and 2050+ will also host a series of talks open to the public, including conversations with the exhibition's designers and industry experts.

To learn more about Gucci | Bamboo Encounters or to attend any of the talks, which take place from 8 to 10 April 2025, visit its website.

Gucci | Bamboo Encounters takes place from 8 to 13 April 2025 at Chiostri di San Simpliciano, Piazza Paolo VI 6, 20121 Milan, Italy. See our Milan design week 2025 guide on Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks that are taking place throughout the week.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Gucci as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

The post Bamboo takes centre stage in Gucci's Milan exhibition appeared first on Dezeen.