Milan Welcomes China: A Mix of Art, Design, and Tradition
Palazzo Serbelloni opened its doors to contemporary China with an evening that blended history, art, and design. On Friday, marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, Milan hosted the opening of the exhibition Reviving Craft – Intangible Chinese Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Design, transforming the neoclassical halls into a bridge between civilizations.
Organized by Sun Media Group and the Fondazione Italia Cina Council (ICCF), and curated by Yang Lan and Su Dan, the exhibition welcomed journalists, collectors, and enthusiasts into a journey through four symbolic spaces – Banquet, Hall, Merenda, and Opera – representing meeting, knowledge, empathy, and aspiration.
Amid toasts and warm greetings, visitors discovered how Chinese artisanal tradition engages in dialogue with contemporary design: ancient embroidery on modern textiles, porcelain reimagined through 3D printing, Song dynasty ceramics paired with contemporary glass.
The immersive and interactive installation, including forays into artificial intelligence, made the dialogue between past and present tangible, bridging manual craftsmanship and technological innovation. Each work tells a story of transformation: intangible cultural heritage is not a relic, but a living force, capable of inspiring and surprising.
In short, within the historic walls of Palazzo Serbelloni, contemporary China demonstrated that tradition can converse with the present without losing authenticity, offering the audience an experience that blends emotion, beauty, and memory.
Text: Germano D’Acquisto
Photos: Alessio Ammannati
