Draga & Aurel presented The Shift during Milan Design Week 2026, an installation at Galleria Rossana Orlandi that explored stratification as both a visual and conceptual tool across art and design.
Located at Via Bandello 16 in Milan, the project reinterpreted the sliding door as an interactive spatial device, transforming it into a medium for movement, colour and perception.
© Draga & Aurel
At the centre of the installation was a triptych by Aurel K. Basedow, described as an abstract work with strong expressive impact. Positioned in front of it were lucite panels painted with epoxy resin by Draga Obradovic, which moved along a system of parallel tracks.
As the translucent panels shifted and overlapped without contact, the perceived depth, rhythm and visual intensity of the composition continuously changed. The result was a fluid relationship between artwork, object and surrounding space.
According to the designers, this created a dynamic exchange of roles. The painting no longer functioned as a self-contained image, while the design system moved beyond pure functionality to become an active instrument of visual transformation. Colour and painterly gestures extended into the surrounding architecture, projecting onto the walls and shaping an immersive environment.
The installation also included a second work by Basedow mounted on the wall, where the dialogue between painted lucite and canvas was revisited. Alongside it, the studio showcased a new wall-mounted version of its Ray light bars.
Minimal in appearance, the Ray pieces were the result of a layered production process in which epoxy resin was activated in multiple stages. Through stratification, the material developed colour gradients that generated changing visual effects depending on the viewer's position.
In The Shift, layering became more than a technical method. Instead, it acted as a language that opened multiple interpretations and created continuity between artistic practice and collectible design.
The presentation continued Draga & Aurel's ongoing exploration of material experimentation, colour and the blurred edges between disciplines. By bringing movement and transformation into the gallery setting, The Shift offered a fresh perspective on how art and design could coexist within one responsive environment.
More information:
Draga & Aurel
[email protected]
www.draga-aurel.com
