De Castelli transforms and clads the eight central columns of the main courtyard at the University of Milan, interpreting the designs of Antonio Marras with its metals and exclusive finishes.
I Giganti (the Giants) by Antonio Marras and De Castelli launches the Design Re-Generation exhibition at the University of Milan through a parade of characters that reference the culture and history of Sardinia, standing out on the colonnade of the Courtyard of Honour in memory of and as a guide to ancient know-how.
The figures arose from the artist’s imagination: after meeting with Albino Celato, Marras was inspired by the De Castelli workshop, its materials, working techniques, and finishes, and by the innovative technology and equipment used by such a state-of-the-art company.
The eight stone columns are wrapped in a layer of exquisite metals: two steel semi-cylinders create the backdrop for brass and copper figures that, after being laser cut and rolled, are then given their final texture and traits, with precision and meticulousness, through oxidation and corrosion, the maximum expression of De Castelli savoir-faire.
Once those processes were completed, Antonio Marras intervened personally with precise artistic applications of an oxidising solution, enhancing the unique character and craftsmanship that distinguish the company’s approach and the entire custom-made installation.