IN THE MIDDLE OF NOW-WHERE, METAMORPHOSIS
Opera
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOW-WHERE, METAMORPHOSIS
Location
Largo Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Città Bassa
Client
Designer and artist
Massimo Castagna and Manuel Bonfanti
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOW-WHERE, METAMORPHOSIS
This installation comprises three large sculptures with organic shapes in dialogue: luminous bodies with informal painting strokes. The artwork is interactive, inviting visitors to touch and step inside it. The large modules—intersecting like futuristic skyscrapers—are inspired by the modern forms of Nordic design, yet detached from the ever-evolving dynamics of society. The result is an abstract forest of light, a symbolic space where events occur cyclically and consistently. It beckons the audience to immerse themselves in mystical landscapes and meditative spaces where time feels suspended, and matter becomes a vehicle for profound emotions. In conceiving this piece, Massimo Castagna and Manuel Bonfanti achieved full synergy with Zenucchi Design Code's design thinking, emphasizing the experience of living the design. The inner light that visitors "ignite" within themselves as they enter the artwork, along with the light emanating from the sculpture itself, is seen as a transformativ......
Zenucchi Design Code
"At the heart of every decision lies the person inhabiting the home, their lifestyle, and their needs. Every project must serve them, making their living experience easier, simpler, and more fulfilling." This design philosophy has guided Zenucchi Design Code for over 25 years. With four showrooms located in Bergamo, Brescia, and Milan, the brand maintains direct relationships with over 100 top Italian design brands. It offers custom-made solutions created through collaborations with select artisans across Northern Italy and a specialized team of over 30 experts. Zenucchi Design Code caters to a diverse audience, from private clients to architects and interior designers, providing collaboration, consulting, and support throughout all project phases, including construction management and execution.
Designer
Massimo Castagna
Born in Italy in 1957, Massimo Castagna graduated from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1984 and founded AD Architecture Studio in 1986. He has consistently engaged in architecture, interiors, and design through a unified spatial design approach.
His language eschews trends, focusing instead on contemporary aesthetics where material purity, natural textures, and tactile qualities blend seamlessly with artistic influences. These elements prioritize sensory perceptions and physical experiences within space.
Massimo Castagna’s work has profoundly influenced design and interior design over the past decade, striking a balance between form, materials, and artisanal techniques. His designs reflect the essence of Made in Italy, emphasizing skilled craftsmanship and creativity. His portfolio spans product design for top Italian luxury brands, high-end residential interior design, and architectural projects across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States. Over his career, Castagna has received numerous awards, his works have been featured in international museums like the Saatchi Gallery in London and the MoMA in New York, and he has exhibited at the Milan Triennale.
Since 2000, he has been the creative director for prominent furniture brands, including Minotti, Giorgetti, Henge, Gallotti & Radice, Flou, and others. For ten years, he taught at the Polytechnic University of Milan, focusing on strategies and criteria for designing furniture retail spaces.
Among his significant achievements is the “Pyramid Laboratory” for the Everest-K2-CNR Scientific Committee, a research facility installed in Nepal at an altitude of 5,050 meters in 1991.
Artist
Manuel Bonfanti
Born in Bergamo on January 22, 1974, Manuel Bonfanti studied at the Brera Academy under Luciano Fabro and earned his degree in contemporary art history under Marco Meneguzzo. He worked as an assistant to Monica De Cardenas, collaborating on projects with Gabriel Orozco and Julian Opie. In 1996, he participated in the Erasmus program at Jyväskylä Polytechnic in Finland, delving into Alvar Aalto’s works. Bonfanti is known for his distinctive style, blending visible and invisible dimensions into compositions that explore space, light, and spirituality. His often large-scale works evoke the serenity of Zen atmospheres, engaging in a continuous dialogue between abstraction and animism. Bonfanti has exhibited in prestigious cultural institutions, including the National Cultural Center of Kazan (as part of the Italy-Russia Friendship Year), the Italian Cultural Institute in Prague, and the European Cultural Centre in Venice.
He is also the curator of The Tube One, a permanent contemporary art space at Pope John XXIII Hospital in Bergamo.
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