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The Sursock Cochrane Palace, a jewel of Lebanese architectural and artistic heritage, emblematic and rich in history, once again projects a futuristic vision of a renaissance and hope for a better world. This splendidly decorated space, still bearing the scars of the August 4 explosion, once again carries the torch of cultural transmission and progress, hosting an avant-garde event titled Tools for After from March 14 to April 7.
This highly symbolic exhibition positions Lebanon, often wounded, as a spokesperson for the planet’s inflicted injuries, heralding the beginnings of renewal and resilience. The exhibition was inaugurated on Thursday evening by Nicoletta Bombardiere, Ambassador of Italy to Lebanon. It is jointly organized by the Italian Cultural Institute, the Sursock Palace Association, and the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA), with support from the Italian Embassy in Lebanon and the Italian Trade Agency. This event is part of the 8th edition of Italian Design Day worldwide.
The ingenuity and creativity of Italian design unfold with a new generation of designers creating a laboratory of innovative ideas and original concepts. This collaborative exploration involves revisiting the past to shape a sustainable future and tackle the challenges posed by the Anthropocene era, which has witnessed humanity’s detrimental impact on the planet.
Amidst the ecological crisis and its cascade of disasters, humanity, in its frantic rush towards overproduction and overconsumption, has been urgently forced to retreat in a final effort for survival to question current life forms and save the planet.
However, this new battle carries seeds of hope as it becomes a formidable catalyst, stimulating the imagination and acting as a powerful lever for scientific research and innovation. Italian designers present various scenarios to reignite ecological awareness, encouraging sustainable habitation of the planet without its exploitation.
Ambitious and bold projects are conceived as a survival manual, a return to the source, a call to respect nature and all living beings to preserve biological heritage and the planet’s future. To this end, 44 objects are highlighted to embody the remarkable convergence of the past and future worlds. These objects, tools of unique and improbable shapes, are inspired by living beings—animals, plants, or minerals. Stones and branches are borrowed from nature to become utensils and tools, pen holders, plates, or ashtrays.
Pioneering or alternative materials made from pineapple bark and natural fibers from various wastes become coatings or insulating materials. Algae are used to create robots capable of purifying the air, absorbing carbon and emitting oxygen, turning that same carbon into a nutrient. In an effort to avoid wasting non-renewable natural resources, creators offer a range of visionary ideas for recycling waste and creating new, endless products.
The future human is also imagined, equipped with accessories tailored to their needs, inspired by the animal kingdom (such as kangaroo pouches) to better adapt to natural life. Echoing the Italian Renaissance, which drew inspiration from the Greco-Roman period to address its crises, Italian designers revisit humanity’s primitive origins to assess their impact on contemporary culture. Fascinated by the Paleolithic era and the natural adaptability of Homo sapiens to their environment, they draw inspiration from their dynamics, mobility and ability to prioritize the essentials to derive life lessons for future generations.
A dizzying array of projects and concepts awaits you at this exhibition. Let yourself be swept up in this dance of renewal and innovation to embark on the adventure of design and reinvent the world in your own way. An astonishing experience in a science fiction universe, a meeting between the man of tomorrow and that of yesterday, to be seen and revisited until April 7, 2024.
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