Broken Nature: Design Takes on Human Survival

Broken Nature: Design Takes on Human Survival was an in-depth exploration of the strands that connect humans to the natural environment, which have been intensely compromised, if not entirely severed, over the years. By casting a wide net on architecture and design projects, the exhibition underlined the concept of restorative design, highlighting objects and concepts at all scales that reconsider human beings’ relationship with their environments – including both natural and social ecosystems.

The thematic exhibition included four directly commissioned works and multiple loans. The commissioned works have been entrusted to Formafantasma; to Neri Oxman and her research group, the Mediated Matter Group of MIT Media Lab; to Sigil, a collective based in Beirut and New York; and to Accurat, a data-driven research, design, and innovation studio based in Milan and New York. These commissions highlight design approaches aimed not only at correcting humanity’s self-destructive course, but also at replenishing our relationship with the environment and with all species—including other human beings. Some are even continuations of a body of work previously started and are meant to encourage the designers to consider their practice as long-term research.

In addition to the commissioned works, the thematic exhibition comprised a selection of circa 100 projects from the last three decades, examples of restorative design, architecture, and art from all over the world. These projects, which have played an essential role in the history and advancement of design, have had, in some cases, a memorable impact on society and in the way humans related to the world around them. By placing these different projects in the same space and within the same conversation, the exhibition presented design’s potential to mediate societal and behavioural changes.

The international participations were broadly diverse in topics, perspectives, contexts, and geographies. The projects hail from some of the world’s leading institutions and universities, and countries as far afield as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tunisia, China, Lebanon, Cuba and Australia to name just a few.

All the exhibitions were installed within the spaces of La Triennale di Milano and the surrounding areas. The international participants occupied the ground floor of the Palazzo dell’Arte, while the thematic exhibition was located on the first floor.

Conceived by Paola Antonelli as a project that extends well beyond the walls of La Triennale site, Broken Nature also consisted of: an online platform for dynamic discourse and to unveil the curatorial process; a public programming and symposia; and a catalog with essays from scientists, scholars, designers, and critics, as well as a section devoted to international participations.

International Participants

Algeria
The Song
Exhibition produced by Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Housing, Urban Planning and the City, and the Algerian Agency for Cultural Influence AARC

Australia
Teatro Della Terra Alienata
Exhibition produced by the University of Technology, Sydney

Austria
Circular Flows – The Toilet Revolution
Produced by MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna

China
Environmental Consciousness in Design
Exhibition produced by Tsinghua University, Tongji University, College of Design and Innovation, Shanghai University, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts

Cuba
Arte e Revoluzione – Las esculeas de la arte, La Habana
Exhibiton produced by Norma Rodríguez Derivet – Consejo Nacional Artes Plásticas

Czech Republic
Out of Power Tower – Lithopy
Exhibition produced by The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

Finland
Everyday Experiments
Curated by Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture

France
De la pensée au visible. Design As A Large Ring.
Exhibition produced by Institut français.

Germany
Carceri d’Invenzione
Exhibition produced by Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), Berlin

Italy
4 Elements / Taking Care
Exhibition produced by Politecnico di Milano

Lebanon
Tawaf – A Genealogy of a Tree
Exhibition produced by Lebanese Ministry of Culture

Lithuania
Manifold
Exhibition produced by Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius

Myanmar
Harmony between Nature and Human Being
Exhibition produced by Republic of the Union of Myanmar

The Netherlands
I See That I See What You Don’t See
Exhibition produced by Het Nieuwe Instituut

Poland
MYCOsystem
Exhibition produced by Adam Mickiewicz Institute

Russia
The Moscow River Age
Exhibition produced by Meganom, architectural practice Moscow Architectural Institute

Slovenia
Thinking the Conditions of our Time
Exhibition produced by University of Ljubljana Academy of Fine Arts and Design Industrial Design and Applied Arts Department - Master’s degree program

Sri Lanka
A Piece of Sky – Restoring the Life Cycle
Exhibition produced by Promolanka Holdings

Tunisia
Genesis and Development of a Local Culture

United Kingdom
Maps of Defiance
Exhibition produced by V&A In collaboration with Art Jameel; supported by British Council; additional support provided by Arts Council England

United States
RECKONstruct