The “Sharing Design: Utopia of Culture Makers -- 2015 Milan International Culture Makers' Joint Design Exhibition” organized by Hunan University (HNU) opened in Milan's Fabbrica del Vapore on April 14. At the opening ceremony, more than 100 international culture makers in diverse sectors reproduced culture and life style of different regions by means of images, products, visions, installations and sculpture. They also shared their experience in creative production, business model, cultural innovation and community development.
The exhibition was composed of three sections namely Culture Driven, Culture Making and Culture Coding, showcasing the achievements of HNU School of Design in attending such cultural and scientific projects as the China-Italy Design & Innovation Center, the Lotus Prize International Industrial Design and Innovation Competition, and the Markor Furnishings’ New Channel Project. A new concept of “cultural creator” integrating technology, culture and social innovation was initiated.
Prof. He Renke from the School of Design, Hunan University
Mr. Marino Folin, advisor of the Milan Expo
Villagers' portraits of Dong ethnic minority and design works in the New Channel project are on display at the exhibition zone of Hunan University.
In the New Channel project, teachers and students design fashionable articles of daily use by combining traditional culture elements of the Dong ethnic minority with modern design languages.
The New Channel project displayed at the event is a cooperative research subject initiated in 2009 between the School of Design of Hunan University and Hunan's Tongdao Dong Autonomous County. The project transforms the traditional, rural way of life with modern industrial design ideas to make farmers of ethnic minorities enjoy improved quality of life brought on by modern technologies, while preserving and integrating the excellent cultural tradition of ethnic minorities.
Over 20 students and instructors attended the exhibition. This is the second presence of HNU School of Design in such international exhibition after the 2012 Milan-China Design Innovation Exhibition, and also the only exhibition organized by Chinese university in the event.
The Sharing Design Workshop of Culture Makers was held on the afternoon of April 16. Artists and guests at the workshop included Zhao Xiangdong, consul for science, technology, education and culture at the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Milan, Professor He Renke, dean of the School of Design of Hunan University, Liu Chunjie, director of the Advertising and Marketing Center of the Markor Home Furnishings, Professor Francesco Galli from the School of Design of Polytechnic University of Milan, and Madam Maria Christina Hamel from Milano Makers.
