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On the occasion of Milan Design Week 2023, 5VIE presents Love Letters, an intimate group exhibition featuring new, handcrafted pieces conceived as expressions of gratitude. The autobiographical works - composed in an array of materials and methods - celebrate the designers’ virtuosity and personal stories, while also honoring persons who’ve made a significant impact on the makers’ world views. Collectively, the objects serve as poetic symbols of the effect we have on one another. Conceived and curated by Anna Carnick of Anava Projects, the show will be on view from April 17-23 in Milan as part of 5VIE Design Week.
The exhibition features an exceptional roster of rising stars from around the globe, including Agustina Bottoni (Buenos Aires and Milan), Eve De Haan (London), ibiyanε (Martinique), Ahryun Lee (Essenbach), Xanthe Somers (London), and Maryam Turkey (New York).
In addition to the showcased works, each designer has penned an open letter to their inspiration to accompany their object. These letters bring viewers further into the designers’ worlds, providing additional context and creating a heightened level of intimacy with the pieces.
As Carnick observes, “While each of these designer’s practices is wonderfully distinct, every one has a penchant for crafting narrative-driven, autobiographical pieces that share a bit of themselves with the world. I saw Love Letters as an opportunity for these designers - and their observers - to reflect on the impact we can have on one another. Particularly now, at a moment of global upheaval, as our interconnectedness has taken on a new sense of urgency, Love Letters spotlights the roles of kindness, vulnerability, and creativity both in community building and as a form of resistance to divisiveness and fear.”
From South Korean-born, Bavaria-based Ahryun Lee’s vibrant ceramic work - inspired by famed designer Ettore Sottsass and the bravery of all artists - to Maryam Turkey’s new lighting pieces - made in homage to her mother, their shared and differing experiences as women living in both Baghdad and New York, and a statement on women’s autonomy - the stories told through these pieces are as rich and varied as their makers.
