THE PALAZZO BAGATTI VALSECCHI STANDS AS ONE OF MILAN’S MOST CAPTIVATING RENAISSANCE-STYLE HISTORIC PALAZZI. THIS YEAR, AS PART OF THE PALAZZO DELLE MERAVIGLIE GROUP EXHIBITION, KAIA, IN COLLABORATION WITH AMY SOMERVILLE, WILL TAKE OVER THE REMARKABLE SALA DA PRANZO, A TAPESTRY-LINED DINING ROOM OF EXCEPTIONAL PRESENCE. IN RESPONSE TO THIS MESMERIZING SETTING, KAIA HAS INTRODUCED ITS OWN MASTERWORK: A STRIKING CENTRAL CHANDELIER, THE GOLDEN FLEECE.

THE MUNICH BASED DESIGNER MARKUS BENESCH LOOKED FOR INSPIRATION IN THE GREEK METHODOLOGY OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE. THE MYTH TELLS OF A PRINCE NAMED PHRIXUS, WHO WAS GIVEN A GOLDEN RAM AS A GIFT FROM ZEUS, KING OF THE GODS. WHEN THE GOLDEN RAM DIED, PHRIXUS WOVE THE MOST MAGNIFICENT AND PRECIOUS DRAPERY OF ALL: THE GOLDEN FLEECE. USING SIMPLE YET REFINED RAW BRASS ELEMENTS, THIS INSTALLATION PUSHES THE BOUNDARIES OF BRASS MANUFACTURING AND ADVANCED LED TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE AN INTERWOVEN COMPOSITION THAT CELEBRATES A NEWLY CONCEIVED CHANDELIER WITH RIGOROUS ARCHITECTURAL FORMS.