Author: Zalak Patel

Has it already been one month in Milan? Where does the time fly? It seems as if just yesterday I was flying from Austin to begin my adventure in another country but in reality that adventure came to an end. Even though I’m not going to America yet, it is unbelievable that my study abroad adventure came to an end. However there are so many memories and friendships I will be taking with me. Also, how can I forget the wonderful knowledge I have received in design despite being a non-design major? Truly, I have grasped so much understanding in design that I wouldn’t have been able to receive just sitting in a classroom. Everyday was a new adventure, new lesson to learn about design in various fields, and new opportunity to learn more about the culture that I was surrounded by. And yes the food! Being a big pasta and pizza addict, I can finally say that I have had enough pizza and pasta for at least few months now. But truly, nothing can beat the authentic taste of Italian food than having it in Italy itself. Speaking about food, I can’t forget coffee and gelato! The daily routine of having a cup of marocchino or cappuccino is something that I will really miss. Additionally, something that I’m proud to take back from this trip and Milan, is how much I have came to appreciate the design and art that I’m surrounded by daily. Something that we take, such as a lamp, a simple mere object is actually an art piece that has a design history, hard work of many individuals, and inspiration driven from everywhere. Trying to find affordable, durable, convenient yet artistic ways to present consumers with products that are not only for daily usage but also for admiration is something that I have came to appreciate more. Moreover, when I came to Milan and saw the city for the first time, I was just mesmerized by its architecture. Seeing buildings everywhere that were so intricate and decorative as in Romanesque style versus also seeing simplest looking fascist style buildings, reminded me the role that even politics can have in architecture. Being so fascinated upon sighting beautiful architecture in Milan and anywhere that I have been in Europe has drawn me more closely to my surroundings. This trip has truly changed my perspective in various objects and the beauty of my environment that I forget to acknowledge. I won’t be able to look things in the same way that I did before and I can’t thank this program, Kate, and the beautiful city of Milan enough for giving me an experience that will be remembered for a lifetime.

 

When I visited Switzerland this past weekend, I was able to perceive a different side of architecture that was very different from what I have seen in urban cities. Though there were some historic ornamented buildings, what I mostly saw were buildings that were very simple yet colorful. Unlike Milan or other Italian cities that I have seen so far, there were fewer balconies to be seen. In one building, I even saw a single balcony that was wide enough to cover up to six windows. Usually, what I have seen is a balcony for a single window so this building was interesting to come across. Additionally, I even came across a building that reminded me of Milan with its intricate paintings on wall against a subtle tan color of the building. However, instead of seeing carved marble of columns, the painting on the wall depicted them. Also, the windows in the middle were added on top of balcony to enclose the space from outside. Though I did some Romanesque style in old district of Zurich, I was able to find mostly modernistic style buildings that were colorful from outside with the most simplistic windows.

This past weekend I had an opportunity to do something that I have never done before: travel alone. Growing up in a large extended family, I have always been told about the places we were visiting but never were allowed to give my own opinion in what I wanted to do. Traveling alone and that too in Switzerland was out of my thoughts. I never would have imagined that I would get a chance to go to this BEAUTIFUL country and eat all the chocolate I want (even though it did hurt my wallet). From Milan, I left for Zurich on Saturday. On the train ride, there were so many mountains filled with green trees, waterfalls at every corner, colorful houses, a stream of water passing by, horses, and so much more. Seeing of all this just made me want to live there! When arriving in Zurich, I could already feel the different ambiance that I was in. Different foods, language, transportation, the smell in air, and buildings made me want to go around this welcoming city. Though on the first day I was able to make it outside in the city despite rain in the forecast, it started pouring as soon as I finished my lunch and when I began my exploration. As I stood on the side, I saw that I was on the shopping district so instead of waiting for the rain to stop I went to a mall and gave my wallet a big shock. Later as the rain stopped a little, I was able to roam around the streets and main city center. As the day came to an end, I also stopped by a café to take a little break during my exploration. The next day I started early but instead of at Zurich, I went to Lucerne. On my way there, I got to grasp the actual beauty of Switzerland: small lakes, beautiful houses in middle of nowhere, sheeps roaming around farmland, and just the greenery surrounding the land that made everything so beautiful. Having been living in Milan and visiting other urban cities, now getting to see a beautiful rural side of Europe just presented the many qualities that Europe has. Switzerland was really a great solo adventure. Finding the quality time for myself was worth it as it gave me the independence and confidence that I have wanted to engulf. I still remember my last day at Zurich when I was sitting by the lake, watching ducks and swans, and quietly working on my sketchbook. That peaceful moment in a tranquil environment was what I had wanted to do. With this great of an experience, I can’t wait to continue with it when I travel to London and Paris alone after the program.

When beginning our journey from the Federazione del Fasci Milanesi to Triennale di Milano, a feeling of suppression to being more open was felt along our way. To better describe our journey, an exhibit was created as our presentation. This idea was inspired by one of the exhibitions at the Triennale. Our journey was divided into seven key stops as described in my last blog about this project. These key stops were described by a single word during our exhibit presentation. Our presentation focused on the emotional feeling that our journey took us from past to present time. Even though the headquarters was build after the Triennale, the environment we were in at the beginning felt so heavy. With a history of Mussolini giving address to his people at this central location of Milan, an individual is likely to exhibit a feeling of suppression with its fascist theme building. Continuing our journey from a feeling of suppression, deplete, stimulate, rouse, mobilize, uplift, and feeling of expand in the end are used to describe the key stops. Though during our first walk, we did not know how to present the feelings we felt during the journey, an exhibition from Triennale inspired us that there is no better way to progress through time then to have an exhibition.

During this week’s visits, we got a chance to visit Kartell museum. When first entering the museum, I remember seeing a model of a small car that looked like just a real car except painted. When the tour began, we were told that Kartell has produced more than 8000 items since 1949. The company was created to make everyday items using plastics. People began to get rid of traditional items created using metal or wood and started using plastics, as it was long lasting, easy to clean, light and sturdy. Starting off our tour, we were first shown plastic buckets that women used to wash kitchen utensils, first plastic lamp that was created in 1958, plastic lab equipment that was also produced in 1958, the very first plastic chair in the world that was really important for the company. The first plastic chair was made for children in 1964 and then for adults, plastic chairs came in 1967. This first chair to be made entirely out of plastic marked Kartell’s furniture manufacturing. Furthermore, in 1967 Anna Castelli designed modular furniture that was very important for history of plastic due to its mechanical characteristics. Kartell began to produce everyday items that met home and personal needs. Modular trolleys, drawers, vases, ashtray, table lamps marked a historic time when plastic became the material of future. One of the modular items that I greatly admired was a bookshelf made without any screws in the 1970s. Kartell also produces a bookshelf that is not square or rectangle shaped, rather in circular shape during the 1990s. Additionally, along with producing furniture, Kartell takes a big step in making plastic fashion objects. Items such as plastic shoes and purses mark a big step for Kartell to enter the fashion industry. It is hard to indulge a fact that one company can produce this many items in plastic. What started as a single dream for Kartell turned into easy accessible everyday item for consumers to utilize. A company that started more than 60 years ago still continues to beautify objects using a material that was not imaginable to be utilized in so many ways. Kartell continues to experiment with expansion in technology and it is hard to imagine what this company will continue to do in the next 60 years. Seeing so many objects made out of plastic in one building made me realize the importance a single material can have in the industrial society and in consumer goods.

 

For mapping the city project, a route between Headquarters of the Federazione del Fasci Milanesi and Triennale di Milano had to be administered. My group and I began our journey on Piazza S. Sepolcro where the headquarters is and ended at Emilio Alemagna where the Triennale is. Even though Triennale was build before the headquarters, this pathway of journey enabled us to better interpret these two important buildings. When doing our first walk, we didn’t have any idea of how to best interpret our journey. Starting at the piazza, we were reminded by how suppressing the feeling of just being there felt like. Standing tall as the 9^th century church in front of it, the headquarters was the political center of Mussolini when fascism ruled Italy. Going further, we passed the stock exchange area where the financial district of Milan is. After that, we came across bunch of shops and cafes where the daily interactions takes place. Then we saw a community with parking garage with some cafes as well and people jogging around. Next, Cordona station was sighted with a park sighted right before our last stop, Triennale. When stopping at Triennale, we felt we were more in an open environment without feeling suppressed.

In between traveling around a single country, a change can be noticed in any single subject. Whether that is architecture, food, transportation, environment, or clothing, a difference can be easily recognized. While I have been in Milan for about three weeks now, a variation in architecture was observed when I traveled outside of Milan. With the focus of my sketchbook being windows, I spotted differences in windows and overall architecture of buildings between Milan and when visiting Rome last weekend. While here in Milan there is a mixture of elaborate and decorative buildings, as in Art Nouveau, with that of Fascist architecture, in Rome however, there was only Fascist style to be discovered. Even with the lack of ornamentation, by embracing the simplicity of modern architecture in Rome I did not become overwhelm. With already an existence of prehistoric architecture and monuments, by seeing buildings, especially windows not also take the form of extreme decoration, I was able to smoothly grasp my surroundings. Moreover, since fascist style was brought through Mussolini’s idea of unifying Italy through fascism, seeing this effect take place with the simplest art in Rome and everywhere in Italy, shows the influence that politics can have on art.

 

 

Italy. Just hearing or reading this word, a sign of amazement comes onto our face. Elaborate buildings, food, paintings, sculptures, renaissance, and thousandths of years of history is reminded. Coming to Italy has been a dream and seeing this dream getting fulfilled every morning here in Milan is something that I would have never imagined occurring at such a young age. I still remember the first day when I came to Milan a week ago. Decorated balconies and windows with eye-catching color of the buildings really stunned me. Having seen only the pictures of Italy and now getting the opportunity to experience this country in real, was out of my imagination. During this first week, a lot of exploration was done. Amazement was discovered at every step. The continuous sighting of elegant buildings endlessly kept my attention. Intricate designs, colorful flowers by balcony, expressive paints used outside of apartments kept me immersed into its beauty. While a lot of this week was spent outside to discover Milan, a discussion was also led onto the topic of futuristic movement. Though loathing of old styles and traditions in arts and politics did not receive positive response, futurism did influence new era into discovering new ideas in the fields of technology, arts, and architecture. Architecture today that I have seen so far in Milan, still appears as sophisticated with a touch of ancient times design. Less contemporary designs are seen or at least to me have been discoverable. However, in urban side of Milan neo-futurism designs can be possibly seen. But the chances of seeing antique architecture is higher than contemporary designs. Buildings following traditional architecture form instead of following the futuristic movement, is more admirable for tourists. This particular use of decorative buildings draws every individuals’ sight, including me. If buildings in Milan or any other European city is like western society, there would be no difference left at different points of the world. While there will be admirers for futurism architectural designs, there is nothing like looking at hundreds of year old building to be fascinated by. In western culture, we typically see neo-futuristic buildings at metropolitan cities but getting a chance to see different patterns, colorful, unimaginable buildings here in Europe is something that needs to be kept rather than changed. Yesterday, when visiting Venice, I discovered the same thing. Buildings, streets, little restaurants gave immense fascination to the way they have been for many years. Changing this style and bringing an unsuitable movement in architecture could leave behind the amazement that one gets when discovering years old of architectural design. With my time being here in Italy, I wish to discover more in the fields of architecture and the beautiful city of Milan itself.

 

Umberto Boccioni, an Italian painter, shaped the futurist movement during the 1900s as one of the principle characters. When walking around Boccioni’s exhibition, a change could be seen directly in his works of art. As time passed over the years he started going from more realistic paintings to creating more of an abstract pieces. During the early 20^th century, art is still in the realm of Divisionism. With focus more on light and color, paintings could be discovered following this concept. Using Divisionist techniques, Giacomo Balla leads Boccioni and other artists to follow this trend. With Balla’s teaching, Boccioni creates a masterpiece called La signora Virginia in 1905. When seeing this painting at the exhibition, the colors and the realistic feeling that I was getting by just looking at it awed me. Divisionist technique is described as a painting with divided colors rather than mixed. In this painting, just this type of technique can be observed. The white color of the bed in the background is separated by the blue and green color of the woman’s clothing. Also, the cream color of the sofa is separated from the blue-green color of the wall. Lastly, the yellow and orange color tiles are also separated from each other. By following this technique, the overall painting is made to look more realistic. Even the facial expression on the woman’s face gives off a subtle yet expressive tone. Later around 1910, Boccioni starts experimenting with shapes and geometry. Passing Divisionism and entering the era of Futurism, Boccioni along with other artists started creating more of a modern art. Speed and dynamics is their motto in creating modern yet heroic images. This type of modern art can be seen when Boccioni creates an abstract piece called Dinamismo di una testa di donna in 1914. From creating realistic pieces before 1910 to designing abstract paintings in 1914, an effect of futurism can be seen. When looking at this abstract masterpiece of Boccioni, a loss of divisionism can be sighted. Additionally, loss of definite lines, shape of the face, eyes, mouth, nose can be easily discovered. Furthermore, the medium of this art piece is also mix media with tempera and collage on canvas. With this type of media, one can tell that Boccioni was experimenting new techniques in this futurist era. When I looked at this art piece, it was hard to tell exactly the type of emotion Boccioni was trying to portray on the woman’s face. Without focusing more on the emotions, the artist instead focuses on the technique to signify the movement that artists of modern society were moving towards.

For a company, creating an attractable consumer good can mean a whole new game. Alessi, a design company producing everyday items for household and kitchen supplies, dates to as long as the 1920s. A firm that began with Giovanni Alessi creating objects out of wood and metal, now is remembered by its design element that his son, Carlo Alessi, brought into. During the 1970s, Alberto Alessi is also responsible for collaborating with famous designers such as Castiglioni, Sapper, Mendini, and Sottsass. It was during this time that having a design element in mass production was necessary. When visiting Alessi this past week, a sense of attraction could be felt from every corner. Seeing a mere household item, such as a spoon so charming with its shining and smoothly curved element, brought amazement just viewing at it. Even sighting items such as the strange looking lemon squeezer, made me realize the importance of inspiration. Even though in market some items don’t work so well, by still having inspiration and the willingness to create anything, everything can be possible. Old elements can be transformed for new items to be created. Even today, Alessi continues to follow the same pathway through designing appealing objects for consumers to utilize and I’m grateful to have received the opportunity to visit this company.