Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate
The exhibition space itself was designed by Alberto Artesani and Frederik de Wachter from DWA
(Image credit: Delfino Sisto Legnani)
By
last updated
in Features

On the occasion of the EXPO theme of ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’, Wallpaper* was invited to showcase a retrospective of gastronomic-themed projects from five years of Handmade. Housed in the impressive Expo Gate (a city centre cultural outpost to the nearby Expo, directed by local art curator Caroline Corbetta), the exhibition was part of a cultural programme connecting the city of Milan with the Expo through variations on its themes.

Echoing both the Handmade exhibition in via San Gregorio (which this year focused on food, drink and entertainment), and the Expo motto, Wallpaper* collected and edited a ‘best of’ foodie projects from five years of Handmade archives. The showcase demonstrated the projects’ great variations within the theme, and gathered a diverse range of contributors ranging from independent designers to furniture and manufacturing excellences.

The exhibition included functional kitchen items such as our dream, cube-shaped rice cooker from artist Michael Elmgreen in collaboration with Solve 3D, a table by Rockwell Group and a kitchen knife set by Perceval and La Contrie. We also presented some of the more playful food items from previous years, such as Patternity’s take on storage for Pierre Marcolini chocolate in collaboration with craftsman Toby Winteringham and Bethan Gray’s sophisticated tableware set made of Lapicida stone marquetry. And given our penchant for the fine art of serving drinks, we had to include Tomas Alonso’s copper barware set with Lobmeyr and two drinks cabinets by Christian Haas and Hosun Ching. 

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

We also presented some of the more playful food items from previous years, such Bethan Gray’s sophisticated Tabletop collection in collaboration with Lapicida and Rothschild & Bickers

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

Neri & Hu's ‘Wild Feast’ picnic basket, sponsored by Jaguar, inspired by Jaguar Design. The design duo offered a distinctly modern and boldly Chinese interpretation of the classic British item, made from precision-engineered carbon fibre. 

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

Given our penchant for the fine art of serving drinks, the exhibition included the tasting cabinets by Christian Haas in collaboration with Theresienthal, showcasing the beauty of Marquis de Montesquiou's armagnac.

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

A similarly thoughtful approach was applied by Eindhoven Design Academy graduate Hosun Ching to his drinks cabinet for a vodka lover.

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

This set of Wine Chillers by Joe Doucet and Neal Feay Studio, from 2013, keep chilled wine cool by trapping air between the bottle and interior of the container, reducing heat loss caused by conduction, convection and radiation.

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

The exhibition was hosted in the impressive Expo Gate, a city centre cultural outpost to the nearby Expo.

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

A project from 2010, JIA inc.'s portable picnic plate set combines the company's Eastern sensitivity with a sleek Western aesthetic. 

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

The showcase demonstrated the projects’ great variations within the theme, and gathered a diverse range of contributors ranging from independent designers to furniture and manufacturing excellences. 

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

Titled '5 Years of Gastro Greats', the exhibition collected and edited a ‘best of’ foodie projects from 5 years of Handmade archives.

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

Directed by local art curator Caroline Corbetta, Expo Gate presents a cultural programme connecting the city of Milan with the Expo through variations on its themes. 

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

To celebrate the opening of the exhibition, Wallpaper* invited a bevy of friends and guests to enjoy a delicious meal.

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

The set up was an al fresco lunch for 50 by Milanese caterer Serena Barbier held in front Castello Sforzesco. Before diners sat down to eat, waiters were at hand with spicy nuts and a Prosecco Superiore Venegazzù Spritz. 

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)

Food fest: five years of foodie Handmade projects show at Expogate

Delights on the menu included an artichoke salad and spinach and ricotta ravioli in sage butter, washed down with wine, beer and coffee galore. 

(Image credit: Mark Cocksedge)
Rosa Bertoli

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.

Latest
You might also like
View More ▸