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The Shape of Things to Come | FAI Negozio Olivetti, Venice (IT)
08.05-28.09.2025 On the occasion of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, FAI – the Italian National Trust – presented the exhibition “The Shape of Things to Come” by Formafantasma, curated by Bartolomeo Pietromarchi @bartolomeo.pietromarchi and hosted at the Negozio Olivetti in Piazza San Marco, Venice. The exhibition is closely intertwined with the space designed by Carlo Scarpa – a masterpiece of modern architecture – and with the history of Olivetti, a company symbolic of technological innovation, cutting-edge design, and social commitment. The starting point for the Venice exhibition is Ore Streams, a project launched by Formafantasma in 2017, focused on recycling waste from the electronics industry, now revisited and expanded in a new chapter. Through a series of design objects, documentary videos, and 3D animations, the exhibition addresses the environmental impact of the tech sector from multiple perspectives, emphasizing the role of design as a tool for transformation and awareness. One of the key themes of the exhibition is planned obsolescence – a strategy that intentionally limits a product’s lifespan to encourage replacement, often at the expense of the consumer. This phenomenon, now dominant in the electronics sector, contrasts sharply with Olivetti’s design philosophy, which has always promoted quality, durability, and the cultural value of objects. The Olivetti Store thus becomes an ideal place to reflect on this dichotomy, embodying an alternative vision in which design is conceived to withstand the test of time. Special thanks: Ewan McEoin, Frans Ottink, Ginevra Bocini, Nicoletta Fiorucci, Paola Antonelli, Silvia Fiorucci, Simone LeAmon. Supporting partners: Galleria Giustini / Stagetti, Rome @giustinistagetti Photography: @marcocappellettistudio Formafantasma team: The Shape of Things to Come - @gregorio.gonella Ore Streams - @jeroenvandegruiter @johannaseelemann @nicolas.verschaeve @fondoambiente @negozioolivetti