masquespacio redefines terracotta in 'land' installation at milan design week 2019

spanish studio ‘masquespacio’, comprised of ana milena hernandez palacios and christophe penasse, was commissioned by poggi ugo to create an installation for fuori salone 2019 in milan. the installation celebrates poggi ugo turning 100 years as one of italy’s most important and ancient furnaces and features a refined styling of a centuries-old material. the project, curated by valentina guidi ottobri, proposes new aesthetic visions for the use of terracotta as an innovative design material using form and color as the key elements.

all images courtesy of masquespacio

cheop table

the designer duo created ‘land’, a site-specific installation on the terrace of martina gamboni’s strategic footprints in milan. they used the idea of travel as a revelation, to fall back into the ‘land’ and its natural essence, as a lush and peaceful oasis. italian ‘terra’ means ‘earth soil’, which is used to produce ‘terracotta’, so the journey back to the ‘land’ was in essence rediscovering terracotta. the material is used as a synthesis between nature and everyday objects, resulting in a collection of 17 new pieces.

cheop table

the installation is a revelation of new methods of using terracotta as a design material. the material’s earthy texture and muted red-orange color are highlighted against the contrasting pale blue background that washes all surrounding surfaces. the terracotta pieces displayed expose their grainy, irregular surface cut and molded in endless shapes: a palm leaf motif folding screen, ribbed stools and planters, native masks and volumetric hanging artwork that evokes ancient temple walls.

area vip

masquespacio describes the project as ‘a survey on physical and cultural geographies changes and on the landscape transformation of the contemporary world; a landscape like a living book of innumerable metamorphoses, a dream in search of exotic countries, in a continuous rebirth of warm human colours; a theater of bodies and elements, among archaic symbols, city metal sheets and fragrant elixirs.’

exhibition view

leaf chair detail

the duo with palm canvas in bakground

mask

exhibition view

infinite geometry piece

masks

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: cristina gomez | designboom