700 visitors for the open day of DE FILO

Large turnout at the event on Saturday 20 May during which the historic Bergamo-based company opened its doors to the public for the inauguration of the exhibition dedicated to 150 years of activity.

A journey through history, industry and art to discover the culture of linen: this was the idea behind the open day that animated the premises of Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale last Saturday, 20 May 2023.

Linificio employees opened the historic Villa d’Almè premises to the public, taking the 700 or so visitors on a discovery of the production process that has made this company a world excellence, and of DE FILO, the textile and contemporary art exhibition created on the occasion of the company’s 150th anniversary.

Set up inside the headquarters of Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale in Villa d’Almé (BG) in an industrial space formerly used for winding, the exhibition starts from the Italian industrial tradition, passes through the languages of communication and lands in art to tell the story and philosophy of the company and spread the ancient culture of linen.

A tribute to the Italian textile industry and its possible sustainable visions, declined through multiple interpretations of contemporary art, which stimulate new reflections on humanity, relationships, technology, nature and industry.

DE FILO proposes a possible multidisciplinary exploration of the object “thread” (using “DE” in the sense of the Latin preposition “concerning” but also “on” the thread) and, through the work of contemporary artists and designers in the textile and non-textile field, intends to convey messages related to the Linificio, its history, places, products, technologies and above all sustainable innovations and new pioneering applications. From yarns for linen fabrics and hemp fabrics to actions for the protection of the seabed (Marevivo), from natural nets for food packaging (L!NCREDIBLE ®) to initiatives for compensation and for the protection of biodiversity, as well as cultural, educational and territorial enhancement activities: these are just some of the projects that have characterised the history of the company in recent years and that give rise to the interpretation of some of the works in the exhibition

“DE FILO is yet another expression of Linificio’s sustainable vision,” emphasises Pierluigi Fusco Girard, the company’s CEO.

“This exhibition represents one more step along the journey we started a few years ago with the aim of expanding the impact of our B Corp company on the territory, the community and the environment.

Over the years, the Linificio has brought its flax fields to the Bergamo area, leaving its own premises to approach the territory. Through the open day we have decided to open our doors to the territory and the citizens, creating this two-way link: the company that goes towards the territory and, at the same time, the territory that can go towards the company”.

The result of months of research and in-depth studies of the sector, DE FILO is part of a broader project of strategic communication and involvement of all the Linificio’s stakeholders, which has led to the creation of the company’s new coordinated image, the updating of communication tools and the organisation of events and meetings: a set of initiatives aimed at planting new ideas and enhancing culture and creativity even in areas that are only apparently distant.

“We invented DE FILO to tell the story of industrial creativity in a new way with a cross-touchpoint approach that enhances the historic company headquarters as a place open to the public and to the production of thought. The Linificio has given us the great opportunity to do this through the communicative power of art that meets design: a language that actually perfectly matches the innovative attitude that has always characterised the company and is expressed in its ability to imagine new and creative applications of linen and hemp.” These are the words of Michele Casarotto, Strategic and Creative Director of NT Next – Evolving Communication, the company with which he conceived, curated and developed the exhibition.

The exhibition, which will accompany the Linificio throughout the year, features the works of more than 20 exponents of national and international textile and contemporary art. In addition to the site-specific works by Kaori Miyayama, Matteo Berra and the street artist Moneyless, conceived and created directly for the rooms of the Linificio, the exhibition includes works by Matthew Attard, Cristian Boffelli, Diego Dominici, Daniela Frongia, Eva and Franco Mattes, Giulia Nelli, Federica Patera and Andrea Sbra Perego, Matteo Rigamonti and Giorgio Assi, Dado Schapira, Valeria Scuteri, Mimmo Totaro and Tris.to.Quads. The proposal is completed by 9 mini-textiles, small works measuring a maximum of 20 centimetres per side, by international artists selected from over 4,000 in the Miniartextil archive.

The exhibition will again be open to the public on selected dates: the first one on the calendar, Friday 26 May, is already sold-out. The next days on which the exhibition will be open are Friday 9 June, 23 June, 30 June, 7 July, 21 July, 1 September, 8 September, 6 October: you can register by visiting the company website (https://www.linificio.it/de-filo/) or (www.bergamobrescia2023.it).

Credits For:

Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale

CEO:

Pierluigi Fusco Girard

Coordination:

Cinzia Xodo

A project conceived and curated by:

NT Next – Evolving Communication

Project management and creative concept: Michele Casarotto

Accounting and organisation:

Vanessa Saccomandi Accounting and production: Carlo Pedrali

Graphic Design:

Stefano Rota, Riki Cellini

Copywriting:

Mario Rebussi, Roberta Breno

Project assistant:

Giorgia Bartolomeo, Davide Mecca

Pictures: Fabio Toschi Video:

Daniele F. Rossi Translations: Davide Garlini

Technical service:

SG Lighting

Setting up and installation:

Michele Mazzanti

Catalogue printing:

Compagnia Nazionale Italiana

Installation materials and prints:

CPZ

We would like to thank the following for their cooperation:

ArteMorbida, Miniartextil and all the technicians and enthusiasts who contributed to the realisation of this project.

Artists:

Giorgio Assi, Matthew Attard, Silvia Beccaria, Matteo Berra, Cristian Boffelli, Diego Dominici, Daniela Frongia, Alvaro Diego Gomez Campuzano, Yasuko Iyanaga, Keiko Kawanishi, Eva and Franco Mattes, Kaori Miyayama, Moneyless, Giulia Nelli, Federica Patera, Matteo Rigamonti, Enzo Santambrogio, Andrea Sbra Perego, Dado Schapira, Valeria Scuteri, Naoko Serino, Kenji Takahashi, Mimmo Totaro, Tris.to.Quads, Leonora Vekić.

Collective posthumous work Matteo Berra:

Graziano Berra, Marina Elisa Pino, Grazia Berva, Sara Lomboni, Benedetta Berra, Jacopo Pertusi, Nicolò Berva, Daniela Brembati, Gianangelo Berva, Alberto Berva, Alessia Bertino, Giovanna Bracone, Luca Traversi, Cristian Boffelli, Kaori Miyayama, Maria Cristina Galli, Sara Besia, Marcella Casciaro, Claudia Maina, Stefano Rizzi, Claudia Candia, Marta Crespiatico, Simone Giambruno, Emanuele Pavarotti, Francesco Gallo, Lorenzo Lambri, Natalia Vecchia, Andrea Mariconti, Sabrina Galvani, Michele Mazzanti, Evangeline Navarra.

drea Mariconti, Sabrina Galvani, Michele Mazzanti, Evangeline Navarra.