A glimpse into Flos' captivating short films presented at Euroluce, a tribute to illumination through cinematic artistry.
"Let's Dish About Flos' Mind-Blowing 2023 Exhibit!"
Hey there, design enthusiasts! Buckle up as we delve into Flos' jaw-dropping exhibition at Milan Design Week 2023, aptly named 'The Light of the Mind.'
Flos, ever the trendsetter in the design world, collaborated with some of the best minds in the business. The trio behind this masterpiece? Formafantasma, winners of our very own Design Award 2025, and director Nicolò Terraneo, known for his stellar fashion campaign work.
Together, they crafted a breathtaking set design and video installation that made waves during Milan Design Week. The exhibition showcased new pieces by seven visionary designers, including Piero Lissoni's 'Jam Session' floor lamp, Michael Anastassiades' 'Linked,' and a fresh take on Philippe Starck's 'Bon Jour Unplugged.'
Formafantasma also graced Flos' Corso Monforte showroom with an installation featuring their own 'SuperWire' collection.
But what made 'The Light of the Mind' truly stand out was the series of seven short films that reflected the essence of the products and the creative process behind them. Formafantasma described this approach as "stripping away additional storytelling, because the lamp itself, with its charm and design intelligence, is the narrative."
Our acting global design director, Hugo MacDonald, was mightily impressed. "I was blown away by their use of film as a poetic, suggestive communication tool to enhance our appreciation of the designers' worlds and ways of working. It was so much more engaging than the standard 'to camera' interviews that people usually lump for."
To bring these films to life, Formafantasma provided Terraneo with a smorgasbord of materials – custom footage, found objects, book excerpts, film clips, and snapshots of the prototyping process. A visit to the designers' studios further enriched the process, but avoided the traditional interview format. The result? An "honest portrait of the creative process," say Formafantasma.
We're gonna give you a sneak peek at three of these short films. According to the creators, they require the viewer to use their imagination, offering intentionally fragmented stories and a plurality of layered imagery.
Seki-Han floor lamp, by Tobia ScarpaScarpa originally designed the 'Seki-Han' wooden floor lamp in 1963. In 2023, the redesign uses ash wood rotating blades instead of the original slim Douglas fir panels. Scarpa notes, "The name of the lamp comes from a symbol of good fortune: in Japan, 'seki han' (red rice) is a traditional dish often prepared for special occasions, such as the celebration of a birth."
Luce Sferica pendant, by Ronan BouroullecRonan Bouroullec's modular glass pendants, 'Luce Sferica,' are defined by their lightness and poetry. While they strive to capture a fleeting moment, they are also inspired by an industrial, functional spirit. Bouroullec states, "On the synthetic base of the extruded aluminum, mouth-blown glass spheres glide, as if a bubble were to rest on a thread."
SuperWire collection, by FormafantasmaFormafantasma's 'SuperWire' collection was the star of Flos' site-specific showroom installation at their flagship on Milan's Corso Monforte. The collection, now produced in four versions, was presented with fabric partitions that acted as a portal revealing the lights' key components or the videos.
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Design enthusiasts, let's take a closer look at the home-and-garden aspects of Flos' 2023 exhibit, 'The Light of the Mind.' Formafantasma, alongside Nicolo' Terraneo, created a captivating home environment showcasing the 'SuperWire' collection, part of the installation at Flos' Corso Monforte showroom. Thiscollection, now available in four versions, was presented in a setting defined by fabric partitions that unveiled the lights' essential components or accompanying videos.
