This April at Milan’s Fuorisalone 2025, the most popular design fair in the world IMO, Gucci is presenting Gucci | Bamboo Encounters, an exhibition that reimagines the creative potential of bamboo. Set within the 16th-century Chiostri di San Simpliciano, the show is curated by Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli and his design studio 2050+, and features bold, unexpected works by artists and designers from around the world.
Bamboo has been part of Gucci’s design language since the 1940s, when it was first used for handbag handles, most notably in the Gucci Bamboo 1947. Over time, it became more than just a material—it grew into a symbol of Gucci’s craftsmanship and innovation, connecting heritage with contemporary design.
The exhibition explores this legacy through a wide range of artistic interpretations. Anton Alvarez pays tribute to bamboo’s natural form with his sculpture 1802251226, while Dima Srouji combines found bamboo baskets with hand-blown glass in Hybrid Exhalations. Dutch collective Kite Club (Bertjan Pot, Liesbeth Abbenes, and Maurice Scheltens) presents Thank you, Bamboo, a series of modern kites using bamboo. Laurids Gallée offers a resin-based reinterpretation with Scaffolding, and Nathalie Du Pasquier contributes PASSAVENTO, using bamboo panels and silk fabrics. From Seoul, Sisan Lee merges traditional Korean aesthetics with modern techniques in engraved aluminum pieces. Meanwhile, the back studio duo, Eugenio Rossi and Yaazd Contractor, create a glowing light installation, bamboo assemblage n.1, that reflects both tradition and modernity.
Gucci | Bamboo Encounters runs from April 8 to 13 at Chiostri di San Simpliciano in Milan. From April 8 to 10, Gucci and 2050+ will also host public talks featuring the participating artists, designers, and other creative voices. It’s a thoughtful and inspiring look at how a timeless material continues to bridge the past and the future.