The Sound of Matter: the new edition of “The Instant of Change” at Fuorisalone 2025
For the fifth consecutive year, Mo.1950 hosts The Instant of Change at its showroom on Via Molino delle Armi 14 in Milan. Curated by Luca Caizzi, the project explores the properties of materials and surfaces through various languages, fostering an ever-evolving dialogue between design, art, and sensory experimentation.
The 2025 edition, The Sound of Matter, introduces a new dimension to the project: sound. Curator Marta Oliva investigates the relationship between materials and sound through a series of mixtapes inspired by the surfaces of Ceramiche Caesar, Rexa, and QuadroDesign. Gabriele Zagaglia’s illustrations will shape the interaction between these elements, transforming sound suggestions into material images.
To enhance the multisensory experience of The Sound of Matter, Marta Oliva will perform a live DJ set on Wednesday, April 9, at 6:30 PM, in collaboration with technical partner AlphaTheta.
Over the years, The Instant of Change has explored multiple forms of material transformation, from photography to interactive installations and even experimentation with food in the 2024 edition. With The Sound of Matter, the project evolves further, enveloping the space in a new form that continues the ongoing dialogue between design and materiality.
Since 2021, The Instant of Change has charted a research path on material transformation, shaping it through an ever-evolving vocabulary. The first edition featured photographer Alecio Ferrari and Studio Fludd (Caterina Gabelli + Sara Maragotto) and focused on time, capturing moments of material transformation subjected to processes of deceleration and expansion.
In 2022, the focus shifted to the metamorphosis of materials with Alessandro Furchino Capria and the subtitle “On Chasing or Letting Go.” The author questioned how materials transform into projects and products in this edition. The investigation delved into production processes, creating a dialogue with the manufacturing departments of Ceramiche Caesar, QuadroDesign, and Rexa. The year 2023 marked a sensory turning point with Tris, a work that blended porcelain stoneware, Corian®, and steel into a unique material synthesis conceived by the creative duo Finemateria.
The base of Tris consisted of two volumes of porcelain stoneware and Corian®, while the nine playing pieces were made of steel. With Ceramiche Caesar’s porcelain stoneware, the designers worked on a volume composed of many small fragments, breaking away from the idea of seriality and rigor inherent to this type of material. With Rexa’s Corian®, Finemateria experimented with a plastic approach, creating an ethereal, soft volume that contrasted with the sharp edges and joints of the porcelain stoneware. With QuadroDesign, the designers employed milling techniques to demonstrate how a rigid and cold material like steel can give rise to compositions, reflections, angles, and soft geometries.
Finally, in 2024, artist and food designer Alessandra Pallotta explored the taste of matter with edible installations inspired by the color palettes of Mo. 1950’s collections, transforming the design into an experience to observe, touch, and interact with—real scenic objects available to visitors. Beyond their sculptural presence in situ, the works were also exhibited in a photographic dimension explored by artist Ting Tang. Named SWEET PILLARS and INTERPILLARS, the abstract, two-dimensional sugar forms created by Alessandra Pallotta resulted from aesthetic research on foundations.
