Rope Installation and Incredible Pop-up Restaurant at Circolo Marras in Milan.

Wowee! Some people and some spaces just know what’s up, you know. Antonio Marras is one of those people, and his courtyard, retail space and gallery in Milan are always a joy to visit in it’s over-the-top bonkers amazing glory of unique Italian variety. Marras’ incredible courtyard and showroom usually make me slightly week at the knees, and this year was no exception.

The courtyard and the retail space were marked with a major network of strings and heavy rocks suspended throughout the space, signalling at what’s to come in the gallery below. Downstairs, the showcase was dedicated to the latest project by Eligo (spearheaded by Alberto Nespoli, Domenico Rocca and Leo Prusicki, previously known as Segnoitaliano) in an installation titled ‘Labirinti e Fili’ (‘Labyrints and Wires’). The arresting string installation was made from 20 kilometers of rope – a network of hemp and a primitive nest of sorts, as a celebration of ancient art and craft Eligo has become known for. Eligo’s capsule collection consisted of terracotta bottles, vases and larger vessels in limited editions, some of which were hand painted by Antonio Marras.

And then, a little sweet treat laid through the door that lead into the final room – a space that surprised and delighted to the point it literally made me squeal. Yiew! At first I had no idea what I was looking at. I was simply losing my shit and loving everything to bits – the eclectic collection of furniture, extraordinary styling of every single table – each one unique and beautiful in it’s own right, the backlit wall made of vintage windows and doors, the oversized illuminated images of elderly locals which absolutely stole my heart. I was loving it all, and feeling overjoyed that such unexpected beauty could be discovered during my favourite week of the year. Later on I realise this space was actually a temporary restaurant that served regional Sardinian food, a place where Antonio Marras is originally from. The food was prepared by celebrated Sardinian chef Roberto Serra of ‘Su Carduleu’ restaurant in Abbasanta.

Are you dealing? Because I was not. Milano, I officially love you even harder than before.