four artists reinterpret ‘metamorphosis’ for bulgari in site-specific installations

azuma makoto, daan roosegaarde, ann veronica janssens and vincent van duysen present their own ideas of metamorphosis.

sofia lekka angelopoulou September 9, 2021 4 min

bulgari metamorphosis at milan design week

‘metamorphosis is the most revolutionary and profound accomplishment in the life of a person, a society or the world at large, and art and design are its main interpreters.’ with this in mind, bulgari asked four international artists to represent their own ideas of metamorphosis at galleria d’arte moderna (GAM) during milan design week. azuma makoto, daan roosegaarde, ann veronica janssens and vincent van duysen offer their interpretations of metamorphosis through the poetics of their specific languages, resulting in a series of unique and diverse site-specific installations.

the first installation visitors encounter as they enter the spaces of GAM is ‘the garden of eden’ by azuma makoto. for the japanese flower artist, ‘metamorphosis’ is the word that encapsulates and expresses the notion of ‘life’ in all its precarious fragility. the installation features a huge brass tree sprouting real fruits and flowers. being living creatures, the flowers change in form, color and fragrance over time. the goal is to transmit to the visitors a metamorphic sense of ‘time’ through the contrast between the artificial materials and the vitality of the fruits and flowers. four artists reinterpret 'metamorphosis' for bulgari in site-specific installations - 1 mirror-clad bulgari pavilion at the courtyard of galleria d’arte moderna (GAM) | image by simone fiorini

interpretations in art and design

bulgari’s ‘artistic metamorphosis’ continues with ‘lotus oculus’ by daan roosegaarde, an installation that pays homage to the grandeur of roman architecture, of which the pantheon is one of the greatest achievements. the installation involves a large surface of smart plates inspired by the lotus flower, which, responding to heat and light, seem to magically come to life. roosegaarde calls it ‘a metamorphosis of technology and a metaphor of nature.’

next, ‘gam gam gam’ by ann veronica janssens embraces the optical effects of reflected light to generate constantly shifting images. the fascinating visual effects obtained from the reflected and refracted light are housed in a constellation of aquariums, radiant kaleidoscopes undergoing ceaseless liquid metamorphosis.

as viewers walk around these objects containing suspended liquids with the light passing through the small spaces, the surfaces come to life in colorful reflections of fascinating, strange visions that catalyze attention.

four artists reinterpret 'metamorphosis' for bulgari in site-specific installations ‘the garden of eden’ by azuma makoto | image © designboom

the final installation on view is ‘shelter’ by vincent van duysen, a monolithic object created as a refuge offering shelter and silence, especially from the rush of milan design week. a platform rises from the carpet in the center of the room where a composition of surfaces and walls awaits—a labyrinth in which the visitor enters to experience a new perception of space. the simplicity of the form contrasts with the complexity of the finishings. the monolithic object in the center of the space is the result of the bond between the simplicity of the pure architectural forms and the idea of sumptuousness and maximalism: a volume with an exquisite equilibrium between the two extremes of a spectrum.