M7 at Msheireb Downtown Doha is hosting another exceptional design production from Italy, featuring an exhibition curated by Rossana Orlandi and designed by Lucio Micheletti. Titled ICONE. Voices of Design Made in Italy, the showcase is set to open on 20 September. 

Promoted by the Embassy of Italy in Doha and hosted by Qatar Museums, the exhibit is a timely showcase of the favourable relations between Qatar and Italy, especially as it will be open for public viewing during the EXPO Doha 2023.

Curated by Rossana Orlandi, the exhibition will showcase designs by Lucio Micheletti of Micheletti+Partners, setting in motion a coup de théâtre highlighting Italy’s unparalleled ‘saper fare’.

For Orlandi, the new undertaking comes as yet another adventure. The exhibit emerges on the back of two keywords: emotion and education. With this in mind, the creatives involved were engaged one by one to choose the piece that excite them most, sparking a continuous dialogue with the featured companies, who were crucial partners for the entire show.

Equally instrumental was the collaboration with Micheletti, the architect who imagined darkness as an ideal frame within which to set the furnishings, fusing a museum setup with a theatrical stage to establish the perfect concentration and mood. The exhibition is on view until 20 December.

Sensorial experience

The exhibit promises a sensorial experience, enveloping visitors with a customised layout that explores original ideas around the exhibition design. The most advanced lighting, digital and audio technologies will engage the audience and render the visit as immersive as possible.

The exhibit is divided into two parts. The first part will transform objects into actors. The second, which is dedicated to the companies of ‘Made in Italy’ design, will introduce video compilations that recount their stories under the supervision of Francesca Molteni.

According to the Italian Ambassador to Qatar, HE Paolo Toschi, the ICONE exhibit represents an opportunity for the Italian system to be part of Doha, which is increasingly becoming an epicentre of culture and creativity.

Thanks to the crucial collaboration with Qatar Museums and the partnership with HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, we have been given an opportunity to bring the excellence of the Italian design industry to Qatar.

The ambassador also affirms his support for Italy’s creative industries, which he said served as ‘the greatest calling cards’ of Italian culture abroad, and a driver of economic development, innovation and export to markets with a keen eye for design excellence.

Special activations will also be held on the sidelines of the exhibition.

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