'Masterly - The Dutch in Milano' brings Dutch innovation to Milan Design Week 2022

Commemorating its sixth edition during the 60^th anniversary of Salone del Mobile.Milano, Masterly - The Dutch in Milano will once again welcome Dutch designers, artists, artisans, and companies to showcase their wares at the historic Palazzo Francesco Turati in the heart of Milan, Italy. The brainchild of independent curator Nicole Uniquole, who has overseen every edition since its founding, Masterly is one of the highlights of Fuorisalone under the program of events at Milan Design Week, often viewed as a favourite among both the public and press. As part of 5vie Design Week, the event will overtake the halls and courtyard of the historic palace from June 6 - 12, casting a spotlight on the best that Dutch design has to offer. 

Willem Van Ee, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Italy, encapsulates the origins and spirit of Masterly in an official release, stating: "When envisioning the debut of Masterly in 2016, Nicole Uniquole had the ambition of merging innovation, craftsmanship, and artistic and industrial expertise into a quintessential Dutch showcase to be held in a historic location in the world capital of design." In this regard, Masterly is a celebration of the incredible diversity and inventiveness of creatives working across a variety of disciplines in the Netherlands’ design community, from the fields of product, lighting, textile, and furniture design to graphic design and sculpture. The event will also bring together galleries, craftspeople, and students from creative and vocational schools as part of its multifaceted program.

Amsterdam-based designer Luca Boscardin has dressed the Grand Courtyard of the palace - described as the "beating heart of Masterly" - with an ethereal immersive installation titled Animal Factory. Consisting of iron wireframe sculptures of animals that complement the assortment of orchids decorating the space, the installation imposes a poetic yet playful presence within the zone. Channelling the appearance of garden toys for children, the installation makes use of immense contrasts in its relation to the human scale, while its geometric profiles and arched structural elements blend well with the architecture of the courtyard.

The numerous return exhibitors at this edition of the event include FritsJurgens, Van Besouw, Monasch by Best Wool, Blok & Carina, and BN International, with art direction by Stefan Scholten, Halle Design, Osiris Hertman, and Bibi Smit. On display as solo exhibitions on the ground floor, along a path running from the Cortile d'Onore, this section of the event will also feature the output of newcomers in the Dutch scene such as the 'To Gather' armchair by furniture and upholstery brand Studio Lawrence, the ethereal synthetic fibre lamps of Atelier Robotiq, designer Kees Marcelis' new lighting objects, and master glass blower Marco Lopulalan’s elegant glass vases - fashioned using a Dutch artisanal process that dates back to nearly a century ago. Additionally, companies such as MONDiLAB, My Suncruiser, and Sodalime, will also display their work here.

Rotterdam-based studio 75B has created a collection of tapestries depicting a reinterpreted coat of arms for a number of Italian cities, reimagining them by harnessing the symbolism integral to the settlements in question while introducing a touch of irony to each modern emblem. Besides this, the structure's ground floor patio will accommodate a three-part setting. This comprises outdoor kitchens by Pillen Group, seats designed by Kullar that have been coated with 'green' coatings by Cooloo - an organisation that has embraced the model of the circular economy - alongside bronze sculptures by artist Nancy Faas.

On the first floor above, Dutch artist Claudy Jongstra's installation Weved harkens back to manufacturing traditions associated with wool processing, a practice that has declined in the Netherlands of late. The artist and textile designer will also reveal two new products, designed in collaboration with social design brand Regained and Studio Floris Schoonderbeek, that will have their official previews at Masterly. Jongstra’s installation is also the first section of the exhibition encountered after ascending the structure’s grand staircase.

Curator Nicole Uniquole has supervised the setting in the palace’s Sale Nobili, where she has invited Bert Timmermans of Workingbert to develop graphic motifs for the display tables, inspired by the tapestries decorating these spaces. The graphics themselves have been printed by Blok Plaatmateriaal and Abet Laminati. Preceding this zone of the show, in a large bright gallery room, the design exhibition will also display the works of students from the HMC Vocational College. Under this enduring tradition that extends as far back as the exhibition's inaugural edition, this segment will present works by the institute’s best students, who undergo training in a variety of disciplines from furniture and shoe design to millinery.

Furthermore, the exhibition incorporates a fairly extensive roster of original works as part of the items on display. Among them, upcoming Dutch design brand Vonn Jansen will present a range of inlaid furniture while 3D-printing platform Aectual Studio will exhibit a series of printed screens. Studio Elise Luttik’s 'Ballerina' Lamp is also part of the items on show, along with the work of fashion designer Tess van Zalinge, textiles by designer Lola van Praag, bags by Patrizia Donà of Laboratorio Donà, textile tiles by Carpets for Buildings, a museum showcase by designer Karel Bodegom, and Barbara Nanning’s 'Chimaera' glass collection. Finally, Atelier René Knip will be displaying a series of miniature corten steel greenhouses.

Supplementing the exhibition itself, Masterly also involves a sequence of curated events such as the 'Architect’s Breakfast' - on the morning of June 8, which calls international architects and designers to listen to leading figures in Dutch design. Lidewij Edelkoort is the keynote speaker for this year, and will present her wealth of expertise in the realm of trend forecasting. Finally, the annual 'Flowers Hand-Out' is a token floral offering to the public, in appreciation of the support Masterly receives each year. Organised by Uniquole herself, in association with Orchids Netherlands, the event will invite those visiting the Palazzo on June 12 at 2pm, to pick out an orchid for themselves from those on display at the courtyard.

STIR takes you on a Milanese sojourn! Experience Salone del Mobile and all the design districts - 5vie, Brera, Fuorisalone, Isola, Zona Tortona, and Durini - with us. STIR’s coverage of Milan Design Week 2022, Meanwhile in Milan showcases the best exhibits, moods, studios, events, and folks to look out for. We are also excited to announce our very own STIR press booth at Salone del Mobile - Hall 5/7 S.14, Fiera Milano RHO.