My Big Five. By Carlo Maria Pelagallo

During the wildest week of the year—when Milan is the center of design interpreted in every way possible—there is a space where one can take a break and meditate. This is a place that holds extraordinary art, one of the must-see works for visitors from around the world. We are talking about the courtyard of Santa Maria delle Grazie church, or in other words, the part of the church that holds Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” in its refectory. Here, overlooking the garden—an unexpected locus amoenus from outside—there’s another masterpiece to be discovered—Bramante’s Sacristy, a secret little corner where jewelry designer Carlo Maria Pelagallo decided to set his exhibition/event at the Fuorisalone called “An Hour of Meditation.” The title is pretty self-explanatory, and this event blends in perfectly with the setting. “Fuorisalone is a unique time, a sort of carpe diem for those in my line of work. But I wanted the location to reflect the idea behind my new project,” says the designer. Here, Pelagallo has two pieces on display; while there are only two, they are the pieces that represent the designer’s new path. While he previously only designed jewelry, now he has created two items for the home—candle holders that combine three different materials: marble, wood and gold-plated bronze. “The creative idea is simple, like all of my concepts, and therefore consistent with the path I’ve taken thus far in jewelry. Being able to create candle holders to ‘house’ long, imposing candles and being able to slide them in to the main support easily.” A limited-edition object with only 50 pieces, leaving room for personalization and the use of other materials in the future. A special all-gold edition is to come out soon. In the meantime, ones with handles in carbon fiber and recycled plastic resin are to be released.

During a quick break from the Fuorisalone, Carlo Maria gave us his top-five picks for events and exhibitions:

• Nilufar Depot, Viale Vincenzo Lancetti 34: for those who love architecture and refined design; a sure thing thanks to design dealer Nina Yashar.
• Alcova, Via Popoli Uniti 11-13: in the former Cova & C. panettone factory, a space dedicated to design in the purest sense, created by Valentina Giuffi, founder of Studio Vedèt, and Joseph Grima from Space Caviar. There are twenty designers featured here, from Gijs Bakker to Bloc Studios to Luca Cipelletti.
• Villa Borsani, Via San Michele 1, Varedo: the home of Osvaldo Borsani, a designer who made a great impact on the second half of the twentieth century. A pleasant detour from the well-worn paths in the city, leading all the way to Varedo in Brianza; Borsani’s former home is hosting “Casa Libera!” by Ambra Medda, who also came up with Design Miami and is the creative director of Christie’s design department.

• Villa Mozart, Via Mozart 9: the rooms of this masterpiece of a villa from the 1930s—designed by Portaluppi and Andreani, and today the home of the high-jewelry brand Giampiero Bodino—are to host “Doppia Firma,” an exhibition featuring the collaboration between Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte and Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship. Thirteen original pieces of high-end Italian craftsmanship and international design are to be on display.
• Arco della Pace: the Studio Giò Forma has come up with the gallery of crystals connecting the two bastions in front of the Arch of Peace. Cartier commissioned this work. With the sixty-meter gallery, Cartier wanted to remember the historic flight—which went for a distance of exactly 60 meters—taken by Alberto Santos Dumont, one of the world’s earliest aviators, in 1906.