Ruins by Roberto Sironi

A series of sculptural furniture and functional objects inspired by ruins.

As part of the Porto Design Biennale 2019, the Territorio Italia program and the Frontiere – Contemporary Design Expressions exhibition showcase the work of some of the most talented contemporary Italian designers and artists. Milan-based designer Roberto Sironi exhibits Ruins. The series explores the meaning of the passage of time through the combination of classic and industrial architectural elements. Inspired in part by the destruction of Palmyra in 2015, the collection deconstructs and re-imagines the archaeological concept of ruins.

The series features coffee and side tables as well as mirrors and a bench. All of the pieces feature a blend of architectural elements that seem to belong to different historical eras. For example, the designer has paired classic columns and blocks made of non-geological marble with industrial double-T beams, bronze sculptures, glass surfaces, and cross-link structures. Put in a new perspective, the classic elements that signify ruins and the past transform into post-archaeological concepts that blur both temporal and geographical distances.

The resulting “contemporary ruins” gain a new meaning that goes beyond the significance of the individual components. At the same time, these built objects surpass their simulacrum condition, becoming functional items of a new age. Curated by Maria Milano and Lucio Magri, the exhibition takes place between September 19 and December 8, 2019. Photographs© Roberto Sironi.