Open Sky
Milano Design Week 2018
COS is pleased to introduce Open Sky; a large-scale sculptural installation by American artist Phillip K. Smith III, site-specific to the 16th century Palazzo Isimbardi and open to the public for the duration of Salone del Mobile, 17th-22nd April, 2018.
Inspired by the sky above the Palazzo’s courtyard and the architecture of Milan, Phillip K. Smith III explained, ‘I wanted to pull the sky to the ground – to make it physically present. The square of sky above the courtyard transforms into a semi-circular form, that sits on the courtyard floor directly in front of the viewer. The idea was to actively and seamlessly merge the beauty of the surrounding architecture and the sky over Milan, creating an ever- changing experience”. Moving through the courtyard’s colonnade and into the Palazzo’s adjoining garden, the central sculpture will be complemented by a series of smaller scale reflective works which occupy the green landscape. Shielded from the street, this serene space continues the interaction between architecture and nature, as the works reconfigure and re-collage samplings of the garden.
Since 2012, COS has presented unique and innovative collaborations with artists, designers, and architects in Milan during Salone del Mobile. Past collaborators include Gary Card, Bonsoir Paris, Nendo, Snarkitecture, and Sou Fujimoto, in addition to Studio Swine, whose installation with COS, New Spring, won the Milano Design Award for Most Engaging Exhibition during Milan Design Week last year.
