Thailand’s capital joins the rest of the world in celebrating Italian Design Day on March 9th 2023 with special showcases at three of Bangkok’s leading shopping malls.
The event is the 7th edition of the Italian Design Day under the “Light on Made in Italy” theme and runs from March 7th to 16th at IconSiam, CENTRAL@CentralWorld and Central Embassy. The aim is to promote production and a fundamental component of Italian exports and to reflect the growing global focus on sustainability.
Photo by Sam Teano
Italian Ambassador to Thailand Paolo Dionisi said that the showcase will feature an exhibition of Italian designers and other activities including a talk by renowned architect. “What we want is to celebrate Italian genius in so many things starting from design.”
He added that Bangkok is now on the map for global events and Italy wants to use that inclusion to celebrate design.
“As our slogan goes, ‘Everyone (from) everywhere wants to be in Italy’. Next week we’ll have Italy in Bangkok. I’d like to invite everyone from everywhere in Bangkok to come to the event,” the Ambassador said.
The Embassy of Italy in Bangkok has joined up with ICE-Italian Trade Commission, in synergy with the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce and ADI (Association for Industrial Design) in organizing the event, where the evolution of design and technological innovations will take centre stage.
From March 7th, IconSiam will host the exhibition “ITALIA GENIALE” created by ADI, which was previously displayed in Rome and in the Italian Pavilion of Expo Dubai 2020. Bangkok holds the honour of being the first stop-over on the Asian tour of the exhibition.
“Italia Geniale” celebrates Made in Italy through 71 iconic objects, which trace the history of Italian industrial design in every sector, from furniture to vehicles, from sport to food design, from clothing to robotics. The exhibition clearly underscores the beauty, originality, and creativity of Italian industrial design, which is appreciated all over the world.
The exhibition will be inaugurated by Ambassador Dionisi and by the Thai Minister of Culture Itthiphol Khunpluem on March 7th. There will also be an award ceremony for a Silpakorn University student for designing the logo for the 155th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Italy, which occurs this year.
Photo by Mathias Reding
On March 8th, the flagship event will be “DOLCE ITALIA” Fashion Show at CENTRAL@CentralWorld from 5.30pm-8pm, where Italian fashion and lifestyle will be on stage. The event showcases Italy’s latest fashion trends from the world’s catwalks. The “Dolce Italia” campaign – following the ITA/Central Department Store agreement – will promote Italian fashion and products in the beauty and home sector with special promotions and activities at CENTRAL@ CentralWorld and Central Chidlom from March 8 to April 30.
On March 9th, on the fourth floor of Central Embassy, Ambassador Dionisi will inaugurate the Italian Lighting Exhibition, an exposition of lighting objects characterized by quality, innovation, functionality and energy saving. The main Thai and Myanmar importers of Italian lamps and lighting objects (Euro Creations, Lamptitude, Motif, and Supremo Vita) will present a wide selection of lighting fixtures from leading Italian companies in the sector. Lighting design is tailored to the cities of the future, where quality of life and environmental protection go hand in hand with product appeal. These topics are also at the heart of Rome’s bid to host Expo 2030.
Italian Ambassador to Thailand Paolo Dionisi
Also on March 9th at 2pm, architect Alexander Maria Bellman, a specialist in design and the lighting sector, will hold a Masterclass at Central Embassy in the Open House on the 6th floor. The talk will focus on strategic and creative themes of lighting design.
This year also sees Cambodia hosting an event on March 9th to celebrate the Italian Design Day. Titled “The quality that lights up: the energy of design for people and the environment”, it is being held at Vespa Cambodia, Phnom Penh and is being organized by the Italian-Cambodian Business Association with the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Bangkok and ICE-Italian Trade Commission, and the online participation of Arch. Bellman. In collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Yangon, a delegation from Myanmar composed of interior designers, fashion designers and importers will attend the Italian Design Day events in Bangkok.
By Veena Thoopkrajae
