Staged in San Vittore e 40 Martiri, a deconsecrated church located in the centre of Milan, Desacralized is the first major exhibition to take place in this space. Originally built in the 11th century, the edifice closed for worship in the late 18th century and has since served many purposes for the local community.

It is this long and rich history and, most notably, the transformation of the church into a secular building that has inspired Galerie Philia to conceive this exhibition. Each designer was invited to give their personal interpretation of the notion of desacralisation and take inspiration from objects which formerly had religious associations and have now become solely functional, serving our everyday life. The only imperative the group collectively agreed on was that the works created should be entirely white.

  Void floor mirror by Boldizsar Senteski  //  Chair from Oracle Bone Script by Kar Studio

  Fountain by Pierre de Valck; Set of abstract shell lights by Elsa Foulon

Key international designers will also unveil ‘desacralised’ creations: Rick Owens brings a never- before-seen chair; Arno Declercq shows a large scale uniquely formed dining table, using white for the first time in his work; Henry Wilson exhibits a Pagoda table lamp, inspired by the shapes of an altar and a Japanese temple; Andrés Monnier shows one of his eye-catching firepits made of rock; and Pierre de Valck showcases a fountain – a construction which historically symbolises change and life.

  Tomb chair by Rick Owens



"Objects bear witness to the past - they carry memories and their function is defined by the era in which they were created. Sacred objects have all these qualities but they also transcend their physicality to achieve a spiritual and symbolic value. Desacralized is the third and last of our Milan exhibitions exploring the theme of sacredness and seeks to question the notion of desacralisation, in both its emotional and spiritual manifestations."

Ygaël Attali, Director of Galerie Philia and curator of the exhibition

  Duzhyi stool by FAINA // Ravine Coffee Table by Draga & Aurel

  She's Lost Control Pedestal Table by William Guillon  //  The Pagoda Lamp by Studio Henry Wilson

This year’s exhibition in Milan concluded the third chapter in the gallery’s exhibition trilogy exploring the sacred. The first iteration in 2021, entitled Rick Owens in dialogue with Italian emerging designers, used a postapocalyptic aesthetic to delve into the mystical and the dialogue between the ancient and contemporary ages. The second iteration in 2022 unveiled Temenos, Studiopepe’s first collection of collectible design which explored the notion of sacredness in its anthropological and historical complexity.

Photography  Maison Mouton Noir