During Milan Design Week this past April, international wallcovering brand Arte paid homage to traditional craftsmanship with Echoes of Memphis, a pop-up city showroom featuring a bold installation inspired by ancient Egypt.
The presentation in Brera revolved around pure materiality. Raffia, cork, woven grasses and shells are applied in unexpected ways, demonstrating the versatility of wallcoverings. Inspiration from Memphis, the ancient Egyptian capital, is translated into a contemporary and refined spatial composition where texture and craftsmanship led the narrative.
“Milan Design Week is the ultimate international stage to showcase what Arte represents for today,” says Philippe Desart, managing director of Arte. “ With this presentation, we aim not merely to cover walls, but to let them speak through material, texture and imagination.”
For this special installation, Arte collaborated with Sagarminaga Atelier, an artist known for her work with natural fibres. For Milan Design Week, she translated scenes from Ancient Egypt into refined, life-sized artworks crafted from grasses and organic materials. Her work balances tradition and experimentation, craftsmanship and architectural expression.
The creative partnership between Arte and Sagarminaga is a union of shared values. Both hold a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, tactility and artistic refinement. Their dialogue results in a presentation where innovation and authenticity reinforce one another.
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