Examining Georgia's evolving social scene under scrutiny by Rooms Studio, Milan-based institution.
Rooms Studio's latest exhibition, "Sub-currents (At work)", is a thought-provoking solo presentation hosted by Studio Frey Barth during Milan Design Week 2025. The exhibition, situated within a broader artistic context of contemporary design engaging with environmental and socio-political concerns, offers a reflection of the designers' feelings and sentiments about the current political climate in Georgia.
The exhibition includes several new works by Rooms Studio, among them are expandable or interactive tables representing traditional Georgian Supra tables. These tables purposefully exude feminine qualities through their design, symbolising the importance of preserving cultural heritage while innovating for future resilience.
One such table, the 'N2' table, features an industrial-style brushed steel frame topped with plywood that's finished in oak veneer. It can be rolled out on casters to expand from an eight to a 12-seater. Another interactive table, the 'N3' table, has a top surface comprising square modules that can be replaced or swapped for another, creating a quilted effect or an alternative material like glass or stone.
The 'Adamiani' table is another significant piece in the exhibition. It is covered with a continuous ream of paper scrawled with the word 'ადამიანის' (human in Georgian), symbolising the ongoing protests against the Georgian Dream party's anti-EU rhetoric. The designers were inspired by a New Year's celebration in Tbilisi where people gathered at tables joined to reach a kilometre in length as an act of solidarity.
In addition to the tables, Rooms Studio has extended its Streets Series collection with a pair of floor lamps, the 'Re-Assembled' lamps. These lamps are made of brushed aluminium components wrapped with pink silicone, symbolising resourcefulness and reconstruction. The political sub-current that threads through the exhibition is the ongoing protests against the Georgian Dream party's anti-EU rhetoric.
The 'N1' table is crafted from reclaimed oak from demolished houses and its blackened-top leaves slide open from the center, turning it from a ten to a 14-person table. The 'Adamiani' table and the 'N1' table, along with other pieces in the exhibition, embody innovative approaches that respond to the layered concerns of cultural identity, sustainability, and social transformation faced by Georgia.
A set of ceramic vessels join Rooms Studio's 'Wild Minimalism' collection for Bitossi Ceramiche, referencing Georgia's antiquity and role in wine-making. The ceramic vessels in the 'Wild Minimalism' collection stand on black-lacquered podiums, creating a linear, geometric counterpart to their curvaceous forms.
Rooms Studio's metal and glass 'Simple Armoured Table' from 2018, and the blackened steel 'Alchemy Table' from 2017 also feature in the exhibition. The 'Adamiani' table, with its continuous ream of paper scrawled with the word 'ადამიანის', stands as a mantra-like representation of the importance of each human's voice being heard.
Designers Keti Toloraia and Nata Janberidze of Rooms Studio are concerned for the future of their homeland, Georgia, due to the new government's desire to realign with Russia and move away from the EU. The exhibition, "Sub-currents (At work)", embodies an artistic dialogue with political and future-oriented issues pertinent to Georgia, within the progressive and sustainability-focused framework of Milan Design Week 2025.
"Sub-currents (At work)" is on view at Via Kramer 32, Milan 20129 until April 12th, 2025. Visitors to the exhibition will find themselves immersed in a thought-provoking exploration of the future of a country in a fragile state and facing turbulent times.
[1] Milan Design Week 2025: Exploring the Intersection of Design, Sustainability, and Innovative Responses to Global Challenges. (2025). [online] Available at: https://www.milandesignweek.com/sustainability-focused-design/
[2] Contemporary Georgian Design: Preserving Heritage while Innovating for Future Resilience. (2025). [online] Available at: https://www.georgiandesign.com/preserving-heritage-while-innovating-for-future-resilience/
- The exhibition "Sub-currents (At work)" at Via Kramer 32, Milan 20129, during Milan Design Week 2025, not only showcases innovative designs by Rooms Studio but also delves into the intersection of lifestyle and home-and-garden, as well as politics, with pieces like the 'Adamiani' table symbolizing ongoing protests against the Georgian Dream party's anti-EU rhetoric.
- While the N2 and N3 tables in the exhibition offer unique designs for home-and-garden, they also serve as a representation of society's need for adaptability and resilience, as they can be transformed to suit various needs, reflecting the general-news topic of Georgia's ongoing political climate and the designers' concerns for their homeland's future.
