Sergio Mannino's meditative design at Bushwick Open Studios

The 11th edition of Bushwick Open Studios, New York's largest artist-run event, concluded with a subdued atmosphere due to 28°C weather and gentrification protests. Among the highlights was "Room For Ritual," a pop-up show by Italian designer Sergio Mannino, who moved his studio from Dumbo to Bushwick less than a year ago. The exhibition features "Cento Storie #67," a red oak wood piece inviting visitors to place a personally meaningful object on it, and a Tatami mat for meditation. Mannino's work, inspired by Jean Baudrillard's critique of obscenity in hyperreal objects, aims to reintroduce ritual and time into object interaction. The show is part of a research series begun in 2002 with "Memphis Post-Design" in Milan, curated by Ettore Sottsass. This year, marking Sottsass's centenary, Mannino produced another piece from that series: an altar for objects. Creative director Martina Guandalini noted Bushwick's industrial authenticity contrasts with Dumbo's luxury condos.