A documentary on the 25 years of SaloneSatellite
Universo Satellite. 25 Years of SaloneSatellite, Triennale Milano, 2024
The event set up and curated by Marva Griffin Wilshire to give voice to emerging designers marks a quarter of a century this year. Its story played out at Triennale Milano
Inaugurated in 1998, SaloneSatellite represents a real outpost of creativity - an event dedicated to young people from all over the world who dream of becoming designers, in Milan. Conceived and curated by Marva Griffin Wilshire, SaloneSatellite has played host to more than 14 thousand young designers from over 58 countries, launching the careers of many of the leading contemporary designers who have signed major projects in collaboration with prominent companies exhibiting at the Salone del Mobile.Milano.
Celebrating its 25-year history, the Triennale Milano galleries played host to the exhibition Universo Satellite. 25 Years of SaloneSatellite, from 16th to 28th April 2024, with an exhibition project curated by Beppe Finessi, mounted by Ricardo Bello Dias with Hariadna Pinate and with graphic design by studio òbelo.
“We’ve always called it SaloneSatellite, but over the years it’s become a true Universe,” said Beppe Finessi. “Packed with stories, projects, meetings, passions, constantly brought alive by the hopes and dreams of its young protagonists, who have become new leading lights on the international creative scene over the course of the last 25 years.”
Not just a series of objects but a huge wünderkammer illustrating the relationship between business and creativity, where, in addition to chairs, tables, lamps, armchairs, containers, plates, glasses and vases, the exhibition included a collection of images, drawings, documents and publications that brought the magic of the editions of SaloneSatellite alive again for the community of design lovers.
Marva Griffin Wilshire looks back on the early stages of the project: “In the autumn of 1997 I was asked by Cosmit (the Organising Committee of the Italian Salone del Mobile) to find a way to bring young designers who had formerly been excluded ‘into’ the Salone del Mobile. I used to go see them at the ‘Fuori Salone’ events, where newcomers with sufficient resources would rent out a gallery or basement with the aim of exhibiting their work and getting noticed by manufacturers. But it was hard for them, because it's one thing to do a gallery show if your name is Ettore Sottsass, and quite another if you're completely unknown and need to have your prototypes seen by the industry. The brief from Manlio Armellini, Managing Director of Cosmit, a few days after our meeting, was 'Marva, we have the space, see what you can do to bring young people into the Salone del Mobile'. I went back to my studio and thought long and hard about it. I conducted a personal survey of sorts, talking with Italian and foreign designers and architects, calling current and former colleagues in the press, and I realised that the idea that was taking shape could be worthwhile and interesting. So, three days later I sent Cosmit my proposal. We then held a mini press conference, inviting a number of magazine and newspaper editors they thought it was an interesting idea. A few gave us some feedback, and from there we got down to work…”.
