What Salone del Mobile.Milano has been doing in recent years is a substantial evolution of its trade fair model. It is easy to see the efforts the event has been making in recent years—from the Supersalone, the 2021 edition that followed COVID-19—to become an inclusive, value-driven, responsible context and fabric for generating relevant relationships, narratives and projects all year round.

The rethinking of the layout and routes of the various pavilions is certainly one of the most important revolutions. But the most significant change, in our opinion, is cultural: year after year, Salone is expanding its cultural programme made up of new forms of experimentation, confrontation and in-depth study. Even for 2024, it has presented a diffuse proposal that runs through the entire visitor route, with three large installations as protagonists.

The main design exhibition produced by Salone del Mobile in Milan this year will be Interiors by David Lynch. A Thinking Room, an immersive installation representing the aesthetics and philosophy of the American director.

The curator of this special project is Italian author Antonio Monda. Native to Velletri (near Rome), Monda moved to America at a young age to live the American dream. Today, he teaches at the film department of the Tisch School of Arts at New York University. He has written various novels, short stories and critical reviews for various publications. Some of his more famous publications include his first book on American cinema, La Magnifica Illusione (The Magnificent Illusion), which won the Efebo d'Oro as the best film book of 2003. His book Do You Believe? (2007) has been translated into several languages. In addition to his writing and teaching, he has organised and curated numerous exhibitions at major institutions such as MoMA, the Guggenheim Museum and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. He has curated literary and cinema festivals in Italy and the US and was Artistic Director of the Rome Film Festival from 2015 to 2021.

When asked about his curatorial practice and its connection to writing and teaching Monda shared, “My work is about communicating ideas. I do this through teaching, writing or organising cultural events.” It would make sense that the Salone team reached out to him for their latest design installation. Monda’s latest adventure is to transpose David Lynch’s metaphysical thinking into a physical environment at the design festival. He is the curator of the exhibition Interiors by David Lynch. A Thinking Room, which will be inaugurated within the spaces of the Salone del Mobile, from April 16 - 21, 2024. He spoke to STIR for some behind-the-scenes insights into his upcoming work.

Monda spoke of his relationship long-standing association with the American director and elaborated on what it is like to work with him saying, “Working with him [Lynch], it’s a lot of fun: it’s always surprising, always exciting, never banal, never expected. I met him for the very first time at the end of last century, in 1998 or 1999, when I presented in Los Angeles the restoration of 8 ½ at the Academy. He was in the audience because he’s a huge fan of Federico Fellini. […] Then we realised that we have so many friends in common, like Isabella Rossellini. And then we met again in 2017 for the Rome Film Festival.”

On the conception of the space at Salone del Mobile he added, “For the ‘Thinking Room’ project, he wants to control everything. He checks every small, apparently insignificant element. At the same time, he has the joy of creating. There is nothing heavy-handed. He’s able to be at the same time profound, deep and light.” He continued, “The two rooms will be the very centre, the main special event of this year’s Salone. But they will be completely enclosed, separated from all the rest. In other words, visitors must do a little path, and then they will enter these completely closed elements. So basically, what is inside has nothing to do with the outside.”

On his role as the curator, he described it as such, “David Lynch [is] communicating his ideas and my role is to make sure that this reaches a large but specific audience: that of the Salone del Mobile. When I was approached by Salone del Mobile, I immediately proposed Lynch and they were convinced straight away. I knew he was perfect for this occasion and that it is interesting to look at his work from a furniture and interior design perspective.”

As the conversation drew to a close, the discussion drifted towards how in recent years it is quite common to find designers and architects who feel the need to express certain concepts or narrate projects through the medium of video. Monda reflected that the visa versa was also true concluding, “The first ones that come to mind are Wes Anderson, who designed the Fondazione Prada cafeteria and Luca Guadagnino, who loves to design interiors and furniture. It’s not so rare, especially the new generation of film-makers do this.”

To see the highlights of this conversation please tap on the video in the lead.

Stay tuned to STIR's coverage of Milan Design Week 2024 which showcases the best of exhibitions, studios, designers, installations, brands and events to look out for. Explore EuroCucina and all the design districts—Fuorisalone, 5vie Design Week, Isola Design Week, Brera Design District and Porta Venezia Design District.