Past masters

Studiopepe unearths a new aesthetic inspired by ancient sacred artefacts

- ROSA BERTOLI

Studiopepe’s new collectible furniture and objects collection demonstrates that contemporary design and the history of ancient civilisations can go hand in hand. Presented by Galerie Philia at Fuorisalone 2022, ‘Temenos’ is named after the circular sacred area found in ancient Greek temples and is inspired by the items collected by the Luigi Pigorini National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography in Rome.

‘The collection explores the notion of sacredness in its anthropological and historical complexity, and the symbols given to objects and furniture pieces throughout history,’ explain Studiopepe founders Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto.

Although this is their first foray into collectible design, the Milan-based pair have often employed the codes of the genre in their work, especially in what they call ‘Manifesto projects’, experimental and research-based designs that over the years have set the creative tone of the studio. Of these, the 2016 ‘Ossimori’ collection featured sculptural objects (lamps, mirrors) exploring future archaeology, and its research and aesthetic planted the seed for ‘Temenos’.