PHILIA and Shifting Vision are pleased to present Future Relics, an ambitious new exhibition taking place at the 16th-century Palazzo Corsini al Prato, in the heart of Florence. Rooted in extensive research, the show brings together a group of internationally renowned designers who were invited to create works inspired by the rich, cultural heritage of Medici Florence. In collaboration with Shifting Vision and researchers and academics specialized in the Medici archives, the selected designers have delved into the vast archival holdings of Renaissance Florence to explore the concept of a ‘future relic’. The relics of Medici Florence, ranging from precious objects in the Treasury of San Lorenzo to exotic treasures from global connections, serve as touchstones for this exploration. Examining the local craftsmanship and diverse techniques of the time, the project challenges artists to draw inspiration from the past while creating contemporary works that resonate both locally and globally, symbolically and conceptually.
Palazzo Corsini al Prato, situated in an historic garden by the Arno River, provides an inspiring setting for the exhibition, drawing on the legacy of the powerful Medici family. As one of the most prestigious examples of Baroque style in Renaissance Florence, the Palazzo, originally built for the Corsini family, was chosen for its embodiment of the artistic and architectural advancements championed by the Medici era. This connection ties the venue to Florence’s cultural, political, and social landscape, highlighting both families’ rich shared history and patronage of the arts.
The six selected designers – Andrés Monnier, Elsa Foulon, Kar Studio, Laura Pasquino, Morghen Studio, and Pierre de Valck – will raise broader questions through their new commissions such as how we can envision ‘relics of the future’ in a secular world, how handmade objects can become relics, and exploring the role materials and techniques play in creating relics.
Mexican designer Andrés Monnier will present ‘Altar,’ an intricate sculptural installation symbolizing the Medicis’ immense cultural legacy. Testament to the dynasty’s early interest in the Aztecs, the work, composed of four main pieces includes a mask in Mexican stone with black obsidian eyes inspired by a Tenochtitlan jadeite mask from the Medici collection. Crafted from rock, clay, metal, wood, and glass, the other three structures draw on Florentine pietra dura marquetry. Kar Studio from China has conceived a conceptual chair, inspired by the throne of Cosimo de Medici. Incorporating hand-kneaded clay modelling, fiberglass shaping, the chair features four Chinese jade stones at the four corners of its base, alluding to the four classical elements of Earth, Water, Air and Fire, found both in the Renaissance iconography and Chinese philosophy (which also includes metal as a fifth element).
Amsterdam-based ceramicist Laura Pasquino will unveil a series of sculptural pieces directly influenced by the Medici porcelain formula, found in archives detailing Francesco I de Medici’s 1560s ceramic workshop which aimed to imitate Chinese porcelain. Meanwhile, Italian design duo Morghen Studio will exhibit a modern interpretation of a free-standing column – a fundamental element adopted by the Florentine Renaissance from Classical antiquity. The installation envisions a “box” containing traces reminiscent of Ghiberti’s “Porta del Paradiso,” Michelangelo’s “Pietà” (both finished and unfinished), and “Tondo Doni,” -reflecting the Medici passion for hardstone mosaics.
Pierre de Valck took inspiration from a Medici chest he discovered at the Palazzo Pitti to create a wedding casket in patinated bronze with a lock in meteorite rock. The work references the gifts exchanged at significant social occasions during the Medici period, and how these objects strengthened social ties and cross-cultural alliances of the time. Finally, French ceramicist Elsa Foulon will present ‘Relic of the Future,’ a sculptural lacquered cabinet made with wood and ceramic doors inlaid with pyrite nuggets inspired by Italian Renaissance reliquaries. The piece explores the concept of a relic and contemporary perspectives on what we choose to protect today.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Future Relics
When: 1-21 November 2024
Opening preview: 2 November 2024
Where: Palazzo Corsini al Prato, Via il Prato, 58 Firenze 50123