SENZA INVITO exhibition @ the San Vittore prison in Milan – Photo by Design Differente.
Design – Archipanic founder and editor-in-chief Enrico Zilli joined an exceptional visit to the San Vittore prison in Milan for the Senza Invito exhibition to meet inmates who were tasked to get creative and SWITCH the design-thinking mode ON for a circular economy workshop in collaboration with university professors and the Repubblica del Design District.
- RELATED STORIES: Read more about Milan Design Week 2023 on Archipanic.
Photo by Marco Merati.
“Senza Invito – ‘Without invitation in English – is a tongue-in-cheek title,” explains Ilaria Scauri, who organised the circularity workshop. “Usually, nobody gets an invitation to the prison. But in this case, I decided to invite Davide Crippa and his team because I believed a more professional creative approach was needed.”
Photo by Marco Merati.
Indeed, inmates cannot use saws, hammers, and knives – they can’t work with any object or materials that could become harmful. For the workshop, they could only use scissors with rounded points and work with discarded things like plastic bottles, old newspapers, toilet paper rolls, fruit racks, lids, cartons, and gym mats.
Photo by Marco Merati.
Despite such limited conditions, the inmates transformed everyday waste into functional, comfy, and beautiful objects. Toilet paper rolls filled with old newspapers were assembled to create a massaging chaise lounge on fruit plastic containers. Other armchairs and a sofa were wrapped in cartons and gym mats; thanks to empty water bottles under the seat, bounciness was granted.
Photo by Design Differente.
“The Act of design always implies a vision of the future, a projection, and, in this particular case, it acquires a much deeper and authentic value.” Davide Crippa, the co-founder of Repubblica del Design and professor at IUAV University in Venice, told Archipanic. “The Senza Invito exhibition invites us all to observe simple objects that are not only objects, to think about normality, diversity, and exceptionality.”
Photo by Marco Merati.
Other works include tableware like tea sets, glasses, and tablecloths made from plastic bottles. A large vase made from the base of plastic bottles contained a bouquet of colourful poppies made from soap and flour dough. A pyramidal chest covered in lids features a ‘Leonardesque’ system of pulleys and windlasses to keep its content hidden.
Photo by Marco Merati.
All the projects were on display by the infirmary hall. The inmates have previously transformed a courtyard into a peaceful garden where they grow plants and herbs to host other circular crafts.
Photo by Marco Merati.
“For us, it has been a great opportunity to see that, through creativity, we can create not only craft useful objects but strengthen our relationships and, in this case, meet many people daily. Thank you to all the team behind this project and visitors who wanted to listen to our story.” Says Pietro, speaking for the whole group of inmates.
Photo by Design Differente.
Along one of the rows of the jail is also a unique photographic project by Marco Merati. “I wanted to portray these guys’ hard work and commitment. But it wasn’t simple at the beginning as they weren’t so at ease in front of the camera. Over time we gained confidence and became friends.”
All photos by Marco Merati and Design Differente, courtesy of Davide Crippa/Repubblica del Design.
WITHOUT INVITATION photo essay by Marco Merati @ the San Vittore prison, Milna – Photo by Marco Merati.
