Italy takes centre stage at Bangkok Design Week

A symbolic maze made up of 2,500 cardboard boxes will take visitors on an evocative adventure showcasing iconic Italian design works: ‘A*Maze*ing Journey to the Italian Design House’ is an installation commissioned by the Italian Embassy in Thailand for the Bangkok Design Week 2018. The event, which runs from 27 January to 4 February, takes place in different creative centres across the Thai capital.The Bangkok Design Week is one of the most important international events featured in the Design Week agenda. Italy’s participation in it also marks the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Italy and Thailand. Gianluca Vernizzi, a creative designer, is the author of the installation in cooperation with Minami Yuzawa and Khopfa Chanpensri and in partnership with AdvisingAsia. The installation is hosted in the international area  at LHONG 1919, an industrial archaeological site, which has been set up by Thailand Creative and Design Centre. The site, which is located along the banks of the Chao Praya river, was recently inaugurated.It is a ‘meta-euphoric programme’, which is combined with other initiatives highlighting ‘Brand Italy’. Four major Italian design schools are among the participants and namely Istituto Europeo del Design, Domus Academy, Istituto Marangoni and Milano Fashion Institute. Italian experts will be holding conferences and lectures focusing on Italian excellence both in terms of design and production, as well as in the training of future designers and creative talents.Finally on Sunday 28 January, Italy will host the International Networking Event. It is a social event addressed to Thai and foreign participants, experts and fans. They will meet in the B&B Italia showroom, that will be set up with Italian design works. Jazz pianist Enrico Zanisi will perform during the event, followed by an Italian swing Djset. The event will also feature Italian food products, pizza, wine, beer and water.