WORDS
REPORTING
TAG
BROWSING
Facebook
WhatsApp
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Email
twitter X

Spazio Maiocchi, Milan. A social space where art, design and fashion combine

Founded by visionary partners Slam Jam and Carhartt WIP, the social venue acts as a cross-disciplinary space as well as an idea aggregator to shape cultural experiences

Kaleidoscope: Spazio Maiocchi studio and exhibition spaces 

Founded by Slam Jam and Carhartt WIP, Spazio Maiocchi is home to studio and exhibition spaces of Kaleidoscope, an enterprise for contemporary art. Released only twice a year, the magazine expands as far into creative projects in both print and online formats. The venue’s location is in the heart of Milan, in a building of over one thousand square metres. Architect Andrea Caputo was in charge of renovating and repurposing the space. An interdisciplinary firm with offices in Milan and Shanghai. Its interiors are constructed around the creation of zinc-coated volumes. They are designed in accordance with contemporary modes of working, exhibiting and socializing, with an emphasis on flexibility and lightness. Kaleidoscope also hosts their annual festival Manifesto, inaugurated in 2019 at Lafayette Anticipations in Paris.

The publication is known for their ability in believing that artists are the real truth-tellers and agents of change. Therefore, their work always puts their vision and creativity front and center in any projects. The aim, in fact, is to leave a constant reminder in regard to the importance of pushing boundaries and breaking new ground within the creative industry. Since its opening in October 2017, Kaleidoscope co-curates the programming of exhibitions and events. It is also building an ever-growing, culturally conscious and new-generation audience within Italy’s fashion and design capital. Sterling Ruby, H.R. Giger, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Anna Uddenberg, Arthur Jafa, Virgil Abloh, Timur Si-Qin, Tobias Spichtig, and Darja Bajagić represent the previously showcased artists.

Peter Sutherland exhibition at Spazio Maiocchi

The Spazio Maiocchi space was designed in accordance with contemporary genres of working, exhibiting and socializing. Further, an added emphasis is given to flexibility and lightness. The interior design has been carefully selected around the creation of several zinc-coated volumes. Its visual presence and digital identity stand as a fraction of Munich-based art direction studio, Bureau Mirko Borsche. The space also contributes to a very wide and open cosmos, with surrounding open roof areas, drawing natural light directly into the venue.

As part of the reopening of the gallery, guests can expect an exhibition by Peter Sutherland curated by Kaleidoscope. The exhibition is titled Colorado. Sutherland, in fact, chose to draw reference to his fond memories of his childhood growing up in Colorado. «A lot of my work is autobiographical. I use photography to document my own experiences in life. As I think this could be important in my work because I lived the first half of my life with no internet or photography. I started shooting at twenty-three. At that time blogs had just started to form; I began to realize I could carry a small camera and have experiences to shoot and share them easily».

Moving back to Colorado

The artist recently moved back to his hometown during the coronavirus pandemic. «I was excited to have the headspace to focus on my work and not really be social. It seems a lot of people spent that time pursuing different things». Sutherland tends to gravitate towards intersections of humans and nature. « I find it to be telling of the past- pristine nature and the future – an overly developed industrial landscape. I also just tend to shoot what grabs my eye wherever I may be». The artist explains how in the beginning of shooting pictures and documenting his life happenings through imagery, he was purposefully sourcing things that shaped his own childhood experiences. With these being findings of nature, a lot of his work today resonates there. 

Colorado, Peter Sutherland

Alessio Ascari photography book 

During the first few years of shooting pictures, Ascari’s work consisted of capturing things that shaped his childhood. His inspiration mostly came from nature. «I like what Kaleidoscope and Spazio Maiocchi do when they mix creative disciplines. I was just excited about how they added to and presented the work in a way I might not have.  It was a truly collaborative process, and I was excited to see it come to life in that way». The work consists of medium and large format framed photographs. The edit was by Alessio Ascari, a master of presentation.

Sutherland also has a new series of collages and a billboard commission in the works. «Those are in relation to working through my images and continuing their life as source images for other things. I try to photograph moments in life that resonate with me in terms of nostalgia, humour and beauty. Over the years I’ve developed a few themes in my work that some people can relate to. But I don’t think ‘everyone’ relates». The book – designed by Kasper-Florio – will feature a complete series of photographs and collages. A conversation with Leo Fitzpatrick and a foreword by Maia Ruth Lee will also characterize the volume. «It’s difficult to create stand-alone and strong images. A book has a flow and an edit of images that makes it work. Then it becomes almost like a film. As we go further into a digital age a book is more and more exciting».

A new beginning after the Covid-19 pandemic

The event marked an important milestone for Peter Sutherland’s career. It also represented a vital new beginning within the culture scene of Milan, after a tough year of isolation due to Covid-19. The pandemic, in fact, unfortunately put the museum and creative realm of the city in great difficulty. Feeling auspicious about his up-and-coming exhibition in collaboration with Spazio Maiocchi and Kaleidoscope, Peter Sutherland is thankful to everyone involved in the making of ‘Colorado’. 

Spazio Maiocchi

Via Achille Maiocchi, 7, 20129 Milano 
Spazio Maiocchi is a social space where art, design and fashion blend to shape new cultural experiences.

Shanay Taylor

Spazio Maiocchi, Milan

The writer does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article.

SHARE
Facebook
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Email
WhatsApp
twitter x