Operae 2017: Design fair's expansion to Lingotto draws record crowds but loses identity

The eighth edition of Operae, Turin's independent design fair, moved to the Lingotto exhibition center adjacent to Artissima, drawing 21,300 visitors and 148 exhibitors. Curator Alice Stori Liechtenstein had anticipated chaos as an opportunity for contamination. The fair generated 365 business meetings among 141 participants from 15 countries. However, the rapid expansion and relocation diluted the event's identity. Established galleries like Nero di Arezzo, Camp Design Gallery, and Luisa Delle Piane benefited from larger spaces, while emerging designers such as Maddalena Selvini, Jonathan Hotz, and Alberto Bellamoli were penalized by overly wide corridors. Three major stylistic flaws undermined the quality: poor neon lighting that dulled materials, a cluttered Dreamers section resembling a second-hand shop despite excellent pieces by Matilda Norberg and Carlo Volpi, and a poorly executed Piemonte Handmade showcase that failed to convey the collaboration between designers and artisans. The fair's new visual identity by Undesign was well-received, but the overall presentation suffered from a loss of the intimate, curated atmosphere that had defined previous editions.