In a celebration of light, literature, and collective thought, British artist and designer Es Devlin unveils Library of Light, a kinetic installation commissioned by the Salone del Mobile.Milano and housed in the historic Cortile d'Onore of the Pinacoteca di Brera.
Created in collaboration with the Pinacoteca di Brera and Grande Brera, with the contribution of Feltrinelli, Library of Light stands at the intersection of art, literature and architecture, embodying the theme of this year's Salone – Thought for Humans.
The centrepiece of the installation is an 18-metre diameter revolving cylindrical sculpture composed of illuminated bookshelves containing over 3,000 volumes donated by Feltrinelli. The sculpture draws inspiration from Umberto Eco's phrase: 'Books are the compass of the mind, they point to countless worlds yet to be explored.'
During the day, the sculpture's mirrored top reflects sunlight into hidden corners of the 17th-century courtyard. At night, the glowing structure casts evocative shadows across the walls, bringing the architecture alive with movement and memory.
Es Devlin describes the installation as 'a kinetic sculpture that reflects the synaptic connections being forged, the resonances and associations at play within the minds of a temporary community of readers.' She adds: 'I have always experienced libraries as silently intensely vibrant places where minds and imaginations soar, while clutched like kites by their seated bodies.'
Drawing inspiration from Maria Gaetana Agnesi—the only female scholar represented in the Cortile—Devlin reflects on her discovery of this forgotten figure: 'I now find so much to learn from her life and practice, her navigation of her times with grace and courage, and yet, until I encountered her statue in the Cortile last year I had no knowledge of her existence. Library of Light seeks to bring her presence from the periphery to the centre of the Cortile.'
Readings from works such as The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli, voiced by actor Benedict Cumberbatch, and writings by Agnesi read by Devlin herself, will be accompanied by a soundscape composed by British duo Polyphonia, featuring excerpts from Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major.
Visitors can explore the library, contribute books, and witness readings daily at 8.00pm, where phrases scroll across an LED screen. Donated books will later join the Milan Library System, continuing their journey beyond the installation.
'Library of Light is a celebration of knowledge understood in all its vitality, as a movement from one person to another, as a driver of development and growth, both individual and collective,' said Alessandra Carra, CEO of the Feltrinelli Group.
The installation also serves as a cultural stage, with talks exploring themes of weaving as cultural memory, literature, and design's role in humanity. Highlights include Walter Siti's lecture on C'era una volta il corpo, and a roundtable on Thought for Humans. with Matilde Cassani, Margherita Palli, and Luca Cipelletti.
Library of Light runs from 7–21 April, 9am to 9pm, with free public entry at the Pinacoteca di Brera – Cortile d'Onore.
More information:
Salone del Mobile.Milano
www.salonemilano.it