CASA GIFU II

The art of Seki – an on-going project between the Gifu Prefecture & atelier oï

The Gifu Prefecture proudly reveals its outstanding traditional craftsmanship focusing on cutlery handcraft. The art of Seki offers a unique experience based on senses and cultural contrasts. CASA GIFU II ephemerally relocates this region of Japan into the heart of the Brera District. The fusion of the Swiss design studio atelier oï and the Japanese manufacturers are metamorphosed by scenographic installations and objects.

Through partnership, the focus is this time set on another part of the oasis of craft and industrial know-how in the Gifu Prefecture, a city called Seki. Co-working with one of the oldest forges of the region, atelier oï developed a katana, thus synthesizing the exchange of talents and artistic expertise for the central piece of the exhibition.

Showcasing ancient and contemporary metal instruments from Seki, CASA GIFU II houses a close-up on materials and long-term manufacturers. Associated with the cutlery art work, the paper-making tradition will also be explored through an impressive and mobile installation.

The exhibition offers a new way to look at the history of man-made and rethink ancestral knowledge in order to cultivate cultural and local design.