Robert Wilson conjures a spectacle to launch Illy’s artist-designed ceramics

Birds eye view of crowds of people
Trieste-based espresso company Illy enlisted artist and Watermill Center artistic director Robert Wilson for an ambitious performance-art spectacle set last night in the back garden of Milan's Triennale Design Museum
(Image credit: TBC)

Experimental theatre director and former Wallpaper* guest editor Robert Wilson is the latest high-profile artist to get inducted into Illycaffè's tony coffee cup design club. The Trieste-based espresso company tapped the artistic director of New York's Watermill Center for an ambitious performance art spectacle set outdoor last evening in the back garden of Milan's Triennale Design Museum.

The evening event featured eccentric live performances by 20 artists selected from Watermill's International Summer Arts Program, as well as a presentation of the six new cups that Wilson curated and co-designed with five artists for Illycaffè's latest Illy Art Collection. It also happily coincided with the 50th birthday of Illycaffè CEO Andrea Illy.
 
'We've been working on the [cup] collection for about two years now,' remarked Carlo Bach, Illy's artistic director, who has brokered the majority of the company's collaborations with top notch artists such as Marina Abramović, Anish Kapoor, Daniel Buren, Jeff Koons and Louise Bourgeois. 'So we thought why not bring Bob's whole art centre here to Milan to celebrate the launch?'
 
Starting with Polish artist Krystian Lyson, who scaled the Triennale's façade as a topless rock climber in a tangle of metallic streamers, each artist hummed to his or her own artistic tune across the museum lawn. Christopher Knowles sat in a wooden cube babbling into a microphone, Alessandra Armenise stood knitting her own red wool prison, Dorian Šilec Petek cross-dressed as a burka-wearing female, and an army of jump-suited models sprouted petal-like sculptural headpieces designed by Christina Sotiropoulou.

In the centre of the pop-up stages was a floating cloud of the new coffee cup collection - each designed in graphic red and white, with touches of black. The cup that Wilson designed features the word 'OK' repeatedly scrawled across its surface. 'My early works in theatre were all silent,' said the theatre and visual artist, as he stood chatting with architect Matteo Thun (the man responsible for the design of the very cup that Wilson, and 70 other contemporary artists before him, have decorated). 'My first play that actually had words only had two-'um' and 'ok'. So this is an homage to that.'
 
The evening also inaugurated a personal exhibition of artist Christopher Knowle's work entitled 'Black, White and Red all Over'. The installation, on view until 28 September, is housed in the basement of the Triennale, where Illy has set up a dedicated Illy Arts Lab space through Milan's Expo in 2015.

Tea cups & saucers on sticks

The event featured eccentric live performances by 20 artists selected from Watermill's International Summer Arts Program, as well as a presentation of the six new cups that Wilson curated and co-designed with five artists for Illycaffè's latest Illy Art Collection

(Image credit: TBC)

Teacups under cloud sculpture

In the centre of the pop-up stages was a cloud by artist Annick Lavallée floating over the new coffee cup collection - each designed in graphic red and white, with touches of black

(Image credit: TBC)

Close up of teacups

The cup that Wilson designed features the word 'OK' repeatedly scrawled across its surface

(Image credit: TBC)

White gorilla suit sat in brown chair

'We've been working on the [cup] collection for about two years now,' remarked Carlo Bach, Illy's artistic director, who has brokered the majority of the company's collaborations with a host of top notch artists. 'So we thought why not bring Bob's whole art centre here to Milan to celebrate the launch?'

(Image credit: TBC)

White sheet ghost next to 2 men in suits

Dorian Šilec Petek donned a burka for a performance

(Image credit: TBC)

Brown fur suit draped over white room

'Hummelmania', by Mette Sterre

(Image credit: TBC)

Woman doing her make up in outdoor mirror

'FAIR & LOST (in the woods)', by Francesca Fini. The artist subjects herself to electric shocks on both arms, causing strong involuntary muscle contractions, while trying to put on make-up in a commentary on beauty and national identity

(Image credit: TBC)

Men in white stood together holding one man in the air

'My heart’s in my hand, and my hand is pierced, and my hand’s in the bag, and the bag is shut, and my heart is caught', by Carlos Soto. The movement is copied directly from concert footage of fans rushing onstage to kiss the singer Morrissey

(Image credit: TBC)

People in brown stood on wooden structure

'86420b', by Christina Sotiropoulou

(Image credit: TBC)

Crowds of people outside large building

'Structurealist' (pictured in the foreground), by Mette Sterre, holds court in the garden. Inspired by the Fibonacci patterns in deep sea animals and crystal formations, the artist presented a short, costume-based performance exploring new body language

(Image credit: TBC)

Wheel of names & dates

Since 1993, Illy has collaborated with over 70 artists, including Jeff Koons, Louise Bourgeois, Tobias Rehberger and Marina Abramović. Illustrator: The Luxury of Protest

(Image credit: TBC)

Man juggling teacups sat on giant tea cup

(Image credit: Alberto Zanetti)

Collection of teacups & saucers on red display

Illy art director Carlo Bach juggling with the brand's iconic espresso cups, designed by Matteo Thun in 1991 and launched in 1992.

(Image credit: TBC)

Tea cup, saucer & box

Dean Jokanovic Tourmin, 2014. To commemorate Italian Republic Day, the Bosnian artist created a bold graphic adornment for the new Illy Art Collection presented by Ars Aevi Depot

(Image credit: TBC)

Colourful teacups

Illy, 2014. This limited edition set of coffee cups has been especially designed to launch and celebrate Expo 2015 in Milan, Italy

(Image credit: TBC)

Colourful tea cups & saucers

Four young artists from various coffee-producing countries were asked to capture the 'Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life' ethos of Milan's forthcoming 2015 Expo. From left: Esteban Piedra León, Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa, Elias Simé and Adàn Vallecillo, 2014

(Image credit: TBC)

Colorful striped mug

Liu Wei, 2013. The patterns in this offering show selected variations from Wei's 'Purple Air' abstract cityscape paintings

(Image credit: TBC)

White teacup & saucer with writing

Michelangelo Pistoletto, 2013. This limited and numbered edition coffee cup features an interpretation of the infinity symbol from his 'The Third Paradise' project

(Image credit: TBC)

Black & white striped teacups

Daniel Buren, 2012. A collection of four espresso cups and saucers drawing on a visual pattern chosen by Buren in 1965 were created for Monumenta 2012 at Paris' Grand Palais

(Image credit: TBC)

White & gold teacup

Mentalklinik, 2012. Istanbul-based design duo Mentalklinik created an minimalist cup with gold detailing for guests staying at the Le Meridien Hotels, inspired by the brand's shared enthusiam for art

(Image credit: TBC)

Black metallic teacups

Anish Kapoor, 2011. The acclaimed sculptor designed a range of gold, platinum and palladium alloy coated cups reminiscent of his mirrored sculptures

(Image credit: TBC)

Peach print teacups

Francesco Clemente, 2011. Combining a love of art with the enjoyment of coffee, the contemporary Italian artist decorated this collection with a bleeding watercolour graphic

(Image credit: TBC)

Monochrome patterned teacups

Tobias Rehberger, 2010. This edition of cups and saucers was enhanced by the German artist with the addition of his signature 'dazzle' painting aesthetic: monochrome optical patterns and bright lines of colour

(Image credit: TBC)

Colourful printed teacup

Pedro Almodóvar, 2009. The Spanish film director drew inspiration from his films, covering this collection of cups and saucers in his colourful striking film posters

(Image credit: TBC)

JJ Martin