Flavio Favelli's Sculptural Interventions at Milan's Albergo Diurno Venezia

Flavio Favelli (born 1967, Florence) has created four sculptural interventions at the Albergo Diurno Venezia in Milan, a historic underground bathhouse and barbershop. The works, described as philological yet artificial and nonsensical, incorporate fragments of pianos assembled with graniglia tiles that evoke staircases leading nowhere. Favelli also installed luminous signs from ATMs, cafes, and gas stations, referencing the 1980s when the Diurno experienced its last moments of glory. The exhibition explores the intersection of metaphysical space and pop culture, highlighting the poetry hidden in Italian trash culture and the art of 'arrangiarsi' (making do). The Albergo Diurno Venezia, originally opened in the 1920s, served as a waiting area between manicures and haircuts. Favelli's work reimagines the central hall's iconic island-sofas, restoring their volumes through his sculptural additions.