L'Espresso, now on newsstands Design of Light. And at the Fuorisalone, a dedicated event
It is light, which shapes spaces and ideas, the protagonist of the new Speciale de L’Espresso, edited by Emilio Carelli: Design di Luce. A collector’s issue, now on newsstands, embellished with a cover signed by illustrator Emiliano Ponzi and editorial consulting by Paolo Casicci, celebrating light as a key element of creativity and innovation.
Made in Italy is the world’s leading publisher of beauty, Casicci says, with light a metaphor for the future of design. It is a concept that also finds expression in Ponzi’s cover: There is a figure pointing his hand upward illuminated by a cone of light, with the presence of some design objects floating in the air, in a staging of amazement that makes them become something other than themselves, somewhat magical objects. Which is exactly what happens during the week of the Salone del Mobile, says the illustrator.
The Special was presented at the House of Action in Milan, in an event organized by L’Espresso and included in the Fuorisalone calendar. It was an occasion for discussion and inspiration in which talks moderated by the weekly magazine’s journalists took turns, featuring Clara Amodeo, creative director of Outdoora, illustrator Lavinia Fagiuoli and photographers Luca Santese and Marco P. Valli of the Cesura collective. The evening also featured an artistic performance by SteReal, of Outdoora, who painted a canvas inspired by the theme of light, the beating heart of this edition.
Inside the Special, contributions from big names on the international art scene stood out, including Oscar winner Paolo Sorrentino, who for Salone del Mobile 2025 signs the project “La dolce attesa.” An installation that reflects on the concept of suspension, transforming the waiting room into an immersive experience: We talk about waiting for a report: that kind of waiting, in life, becomes a suspension of life. When we wait for our fate, all we can do is wait. Our waiting room is meant to be something else. It does not force you to stand still but lets you go. A little trip, like as a child, on reassuring rides, Sorrentino explains.
And again, an interview with American director and set designer Robert Wilson, who for this edition pays homage to Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini, exploring its forms and suggestions through light: The interesting thing is to see a project in the context of light, whether it’s in a room or on stage. Looking at the lines of the body and the details of the sculpture, it was the Pieta that guided me. It took me some time to really start seeing it. And I wanted to give the audience time to discover it as well. A dialogue is established between visitors and the sculpture, in the way it responds.
In the pages of the Special, there is also an exclusive interview with photographer Santi Caleca, who talks about his way of interpreting design through the lens: I don’t photograph the object. I try to photograph the thought behind it, thus revealing his method of capturing the essence of each creation.
