For the 2026 edition of Milan Design Week, the Visteria Foundation will occupy the 16th floor of the Torre Velasca to present "Polish Modernism: A Struggle for Beauty." Curated by Federica Sala and Anna Maga, the exhibition serves as a dialogue between historical masterworks and contemporary objects, framing Polish design not merely as an aesthetic evolution, but as a persistent act of cultural self-determination.
The exhibition takes its title from a 1948 text by Irena Krzywicka, written during a period when Poland was actively forging a new identity amidst the wreckage of the mid-20th century. In this context, modernism was less about the sterile pursuit of "form follows function" and more about a moral imperative to improve the quality of daily life for the common citizen. It was, as the curators suggest, a utilitarianism born of necessity and resistance.
By interweaving archival pieces with works from a new generation of designers, the show highlights a continuity of thought that transcends Poland’s turbulent political history. The selection emphasizes craft and technical boundary-pushing, illustrating how the modernist project remains a living, adaptable framework. In the brutalist setting of the Torre Velasca, the exhibition underscores the idea that design is a fundamental competence for navigating the future.
With reporting from Designboom.
Source · Designboom