During Milan Design Week 2025, the cloisters of San Barnaba became the stage for an immersive art installation that captivated the city’s cultural pulse.
Titled “Delights”, the work by Italian artist Agostino Iacurci was conceived for Opendoor, a design-focused event organized by Door / La Repubblica.
A hybrid landscape of nature and imagination
Set in a historic monastic courtyard, Delights reimagined the traditional Garden of Earthly Delights through a contemporary lens. Vivid wooden sculptures intertwined with live plants to create a dreamlike environment — a sensory playground that blurred the boundary between the real and the artificial.
Throughout the event (April 6–15), the installation hosted talks, workshops, and conversations, transforming the space into a dynamic platform for exchange and reflection. It became not just an artwork, but a social and intellectual gathering point.
Why it went viral
The visual impact of Delights — bold colors, monumental forms, and botanical contrasts — made it a standout installation during Milan Design Week. But beyond its aesthetic appeal, it touched on deeper themes: our relationship with nature, the role of public space, and the power of imagination.
Cultural impact and curatorial vision
Curated by Luca Molinari and styled by Francesca Santambrogio, the piece resonated with a wide audience, from art lovers to design professionals. Its virality online stemmed from both its photogenic quality and its thematic depth — qualities that mark today’s most talked-about art trends.
