Maria Porro, first woman president of Salone del Mobile, on art and design

Maria Porro, the first woman president of Salone del Mobile, discusses the interplay between art and design in an interview. The Salone recently expanded to China with events in Shanghai and Hong Kong, including a performative installation by artist Matilde Cassani at the West Bund Orbit and a show on the SaloneSatellite collection at the Arts Pavilion in West Kowloon. Porro, who studied scenography at Brera Academy, emphasizes that art and design have always been interconnected, with design holding a noble role in industrial production. She notes that the Salone's cultural initiatives, such as exhibiting prototypes by Nanda Vigo and drawings by Gae Aulenti, aim to highlight design's cultural dimension beyond business. Regarding the Fuorisalone, she sees it as an ally that offers different experiences. On gender issues, Porro acknowledges progress but points to persistent challenges like the gender pay gap, and mentions her company's policies such as flexible hours and early factory closing to support work-life balance. The next Salone edition will feature a photographic campaign focusing on the human body, a shift from last year's AI theme.