Antonini Milano presents “Hidden Treasures” by Yansu Wang, the latest event where the showroom’s display windows enter into a dialogue with art and design. Conceived in collaboration with the Numero 51 art gallery, the exhibition takes shape around the imaginary tale of a magpie.
On a sunny Milanese day, the curious young bird enters the magnificent frescoed hall of the palazzo through the large windows overlooking the inner courtyard. Endowed with extraordinary abilities, the magpie can traverse multiple dimensions: drawn to all things that sparkle, it moves freely not only across the painted surfaces but also between the past and the present. In its wanderings, it takes away narrative fragments from the Palazzo’s paintings, from tarot cards to floral motifs, appropriating various details. At the same time, it gathers jewels from Antonini Milano’s collections to protect them in its nest, seamlessly blending different eras. In this sense, the nest transforms into a true treasure chest that welcomes inspirations from both yesterday and today. The precious jewels are safeguarded within a framework of cutouts and combinations carefully curated by the artist, who pays homage to the frescoes of the Sala dei Giochi Borromeo with vibrant and refined compositions.
Y.W.: “Images have always been the most natural medium for me to express myself and preserve memories. The ten years I have spent in Italy have strengthened my need to communicate visually. Living in Bolzano, an area characterized by the coexistence of multiple languages, has often made me feel in a state of ‘semi-aphasia,’ pushing me to seek a more immediate and precise form of expression to dialogue with myself.”
The exhibition marks the second stage of the Dialoghi (Dialogues) series, inaugurated during Milan Design Week in 2025 with Japanese designer Tsukasa Goto. The Maison’s goal is to create new connections and interpretations for the intimate, enclosed spaces of the display windows that house its collections.
