Moscow Design Week opens with design antiheroes exhibition

Moscow Design Week kicks off this week with an exhibition that explores design antiheroes in a retrospective of work from Italian designers from two studios in Milan. For the show, curator and Italian designer Gregorio Spini has handpicked a number of design classics made by members of Studio Alchimia and Dilmos Gallery. They include Alessandro Mendini, a designer and architect who has collaborated with leading international brands such as Cartier, Hermes, Swatch and Swarovski, and Ettore Sottsass, described by London’s Design Museum as a “grandee of 20th century Italian design”.

Other events include a selection of some of the best in contemporary Slovenian design as well as a talk by celebrated French designer Philippe Starck about the ambitions of the Slovenian design industry. Elsewhere, US industrial designer Brad Ascalon will be presenting his new project, De-Evolution, a series of chairs that look as if they’re melting. Taken together, the chairs are a reflection on a once great nation “losing its way”, says Ascalon. Moscow Design Week will run until 17 October at Artplay Design Centre.