Paper, first developed thousands of years ago, continues to open new doors in design – an array of possibilities within a single sheet. Fragmenti, presented by Daniele Papuli at Dilmos Gallery for Milan Design Week, draws on the elemental paths woven by the ancient material, carefully handpicked for their weight and transparencies. Colors and varying thicknesses stack upon each other, subverting standard notions of materiality. Some arrangements are dense and sturdy in their composition, wending their way like wood or stone, others singular sheets of paper, fluttering through the sky with an airy luminosity. This exhibition, which includes tables, vanities, bookcases, consoles, and more, plays upon the outer reaches of paper as form. A comment by the artist upon the ancient material’s strength and durability alone, and exponentially so in numbers – perhaps a metaphor for humanity.
Sinuous, gestural, and organic, these sculptures – each handcrafted by Papuli who calls himself a “sculptographer” – define an amorphous yet approachable world. One where colors seem to grow into one another, slight thicknesses wrapped around their neighbors, by definition determining the placement of the next. Created with care, this installation explores the full potential of paper, creating solid and delightfully tactile forms, the sturdiness offering contrast within the luminosity of the pieces on the ceiling.
Along the ceiling, in groups similar to birds in flight, the solidity and weight of the paper pieces gives way to manipulated sheets of the same material upon mobiles, suspended in space yet always bolstered by the weight of others. The collaborative symbolism within Papuli’s material use is quite endearing, utilizing a seemingly humble material to paint metaphor in an approachable way.
Papuli’s process pushes the material far beyond its conventional associations with fragility. By painstakingly slicing and layering strips of paper, then blending them with Isocell fiber enriched by natural pigments and oxides, Papuli forms new surfaces that pulse with energy and tactility. This fusion of paper and cellulose-based compound results in textures and hues that suggest stone, bark, or even coral, creating a unique visual language rooted in nature but abstracted through craft.
Daniele Papuli happened upon paper by chance, after taking a workshop at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan. After honing his skills at Missoni, this sparked a multi-decade exploration in the material, producing large-scale paper sculptures that defy traditional use. Inspired by the rustling fields of wheat found in his hometown of Apulia, Italy, he deftly translates this movement into his work, infusing a sense of quiet recognition among the sheets.
Daniele Papuli
For more information on the Fragmenti collection by Daniele Papuli, please visit danielepapuli.com.
Photography by Margherita Bonetti.
