Lightness on paper at San Pietro in Atrio

The deconsecrated church of San Pietro in Atrio represents the cultural heart from which this edition of the festival comes to life.

The collective exhibition “Lightness on paper”, in fact, born in collaboration with the Como-based publishing house Lithos, exhibits 10 works by 10 contemporary authors, including architects, designers and artists, who were specifically asked to interpret the theme of lightness through engraving techniques.

Wrapped in the contemplative atmosphere of the place, the prints of the works dialogue with the original plates. The pieces, in limited edition, can be purchased at the exhibition.

8 Days of Lightness at Spazio Natta

Glass art, design and meditation unite the work and life philosophy of the duo Erlands and Bai Bai. The solo exhibition “8 Days of Lightness” presents the EB Light Objects collection in two communicating spaces, but different in their use of light.

You pass through the first room characterized by dark tones and then access the one dominated by light, accompanied by objects, also made of darker metal parts and glass inserts, faceted and reflective.

During the inauguration, Erlands and Bai Bai said they wanted to take advantage of this exhibition as an artist residency by observing and experimenting with the objects together with the visitors.

Contemplation room at Borgovico 33

For the second consecutive year, the Swiss gallery Grieder Contemporary collaborates with Lake Como Design Festival presenting a project by the German artist Jorinde Voigt, renowned for her large-scale drawings that integrate text and collage to create dynamic compositions, capturing elements such as sound, movement, time and perception in a unified visual scheme.

At Borgovico 33, the series Betrachtung/Contemplation (2019-2021) is exhibited, featuring 7 mobiles made of intricate brass wires and chains, ethereal structures that seem to float in space inspired by the proportions of the Fibonacci series.

Voigt's work offers visitors an aesthetic exploration of perception and stability, inviting them to contemplate the delicate balance of the universe.

Installation by Valerio Eliogabalo Torrisi

The artist from Catania, called to interpret the theme of the festival, involved some of the city's commercial activities to create a light and accessible dialogue with his site-specific interventions.

The written word, protagonist of the installations, communicates phrases, thoughts and poetic suggestions more or less hidden in the shop windows: visitors, using a map, are invited to find them all by interacting with the city, those who live there and those who work there.

Lightness in Progress at Villa del Grumello

Villa del Grumello, documented as early as the 15th century, in the second half of the 16th century was one of the first residences on the shores of the Lario, surrounded by greenery, but close to the urban center.

Certainly one of the key places of the festival, this year it hosts the collective “Lightness in Progress”, a selection of unpublished objects, collections and furnishing accessories from historical archives, modern and contemporary design galleries, designers, artists and publishers.

Among the proposals, the Impressions collection by Andrea Branzi, a selection from the Zurich Calle dei Cavalli gallery and Fine Art by Di Mano in Mano with a selection of crystals.

Contemporary Design Selection along the Kilometer of Knowledge

For the first time, the Kilometer of Knowledge opens to the public, in collaboration with Villa del Grumello and the Antonio Ratti Foundation.

In a path that crosses a centuries-old park of over 15 hectares, visitors encounter architectural testimonies, including greenhouses, chapels and docks, set up with the projects of young designers selected by Giovanna Massoni.

From artisanal proposals to more technological studies on balance, light, material, it is nice to be surprised, each time, by the works and their dialogue with the historical structure that hosts them.

Weight of Illumination at Villa Anna in Cernobbio

The early 20th-century structure is home to the exhibition “Weight of Illumination,” a collection of artworks that highlight the dual meaning of “light”—as both brightness and weightlessness—with wit, humor, surrealism, and unexpected twists.

The exhibition is accompanied by a curated selection of period furniture that frames and counterpoints the villa’s Art Nouveau architecture and the contemporary artworks on display that embody weightlessness in both form and concept.

Light Temporary Restaurant at the Serra del Grumello

The proposals of the 2024 edition of the festival touch, with lightness, the most varied areas. Thus, in addition to exhibitions and installations, meetings and ad hoc visits to architects' studios, designers and art galleries are planned.

On the Lake Como Design Festival website you can also find information for interesting guided tours of the city and, for moments of pause, the possibility of booking the Lifgh Temporary Restaurant installed in the greenhouse of Villa del Grumello and curated by chefs Samuela Carugati and Elisa Raieri.

Two menus inspired by Lake Como and its raw materials. The setting of the restaurant was created thanks to the collaboration with the brands Fenix®, Davide Groppi and Pedrali.