<In a Piacenza church, the light of designer Davide Groppi becomes a whisper suspended in time — Art News
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In a Piacenza church, the light of designer Davide Groppi becomes a whisper suspended in time

In una chiesa di Piacenza la luce del designer Davide Groppi diventa un sussurro sospeso nel tempo

Renowned lighting designer Davide Groppi has unveiled a major anthological exhibition titled "Un’ora di luce" (An Hour of Light) at Volumnia, a gallery housed within the deconsecrated Church of Sant’Agostino in Piacenza. Curated by Marco Sammicheli, the retrospective spans forty years of Groppi’s career, featuring iconic works like Sampei and Moon alongside new site-specific debuts. The exhibition is structured in two parts: a series of enclosed "utopias" that create intimate light environments, followed by a dialogue between his minimalist fixtures and the soaring, historic architecture of the church.

This exhibition is significant as it bridges the gap between industrial design and contemporary art, showcasing Groppi’s three-time Compasso d’Oro-winning philosophy of "simplicity and lightness." By utilizing a secularized sacred space, the show highlights how modern lighting can transform architectural heritage into an emotional experience. Furthermore, the inclusion of the new "Umasi" fixture serves as a strategic preview for the upcoming Milan Design Week 2026, cementing Groppi's continued influence on the international design circuit.