History
Duilio Forte artist of mixed Italian and Swedish origins, graduated in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan and is involved in research in the realm of art, with particular attention to spatial dimensions. The goal of his work is to represent the scenography of every day life, the epic universe in which humans move. The practical Swedish tradition and its careful attention towards nature and simplicity merge with the grandeur and complexity of Italian artistic and cultural history. Since his early years Duilio Forte lived the contrast between these two cultures as an incentive to find their perfect coexistence among the dimension of space and time. For this reason on February 12, 2009 Duilio Forte launched the ArkiZoic movement to celebrate the 200 years since Darwin’s birth. The dominant artistic styles of the ArkiZoic manifesto are based on a central vital spirit, that vibrant breath, Anemos, which defines the uniqueness of our planet since 450 million years ago.
In 2008 and 2010 Duilio Forte participates in the Venice Architectural “Biennale” with two of his works, Sleipnir Venexia and Sleipnir Convivalis Quintus. In 2010 he was nominated for the Iakov Chernikhov International Prize for young architects.
AtelierFORTE was established by Duilio on March 13 1998.
AtelierForte is a space in constant development and mutation where, all the projects and works contribute to the definition of the ArkiZoic style, are born. The Atelier is the physical place where artistic and cultural streams come together and give light to creation. All the characters animate the space, as if playing a role in a film or a theatre play, with their own personal skills and capabilities to complete the work.
MATERIALS – AtelierFORTE utilizes two distinctive materials: wood and iron. Wood is mainly used in the development of large architectural projects such as the Sleipnir series, the legendary eight-legged horse of Odin that blends with the tradition of the Trojan horse, able to conquer fortresses and arsenals, and to slip slightly over the lagoon of Venice and the lakes of the Swedish Bergslagen, while the iron dominates in the plastic sculpture. Binding these two materials generates works with very special features: light weighted, yet very resistant structures. Two ancient materials which contribute to the definition of a world projected into the future, with deep roots in its history and tradition.
Norse Mythology
AtelierFORTE is inspired by Norse mythology for the need to connect with the past in order to look into the future. In Nordic tradition the main subjects are animals and natural elements. Furthermore in its mythology, manual labor is considered magical and it is very respected. For these reasons, the adherence to the ArkiZoic Manifesto is evident. Sleipnir is one of the most important characters. Odin’s horse was born from the mighty Svaðilfari and the god Loki. Sleipnir has eight legs and it is the greatest horse ever. Its name means “he, who slips quickly” and it is able to travel by sea, by land and through the other worlds. Duilio Forte considers the horse as a symbol of exploration, discovery and conquest. It is also a meeting point between classical mythology and Norse mythology: Trojan horse and Odin horse live in both Mediterranean and Scandinavian cultures.
AtelierFORTE’s activities are: art, academic teaching, architecture and design.
For important customers like Missoni, Piazza Sempione, MODA IN, Fay, Mango, Milano Film Festival, Diesel, AHEC, AtelierFORTE designed and realized scenographical installations and furniture in Milan, New York and Paris.
Since 2009, Duilio Forte collaborates with NABA, Nuova Accademia Belle Arti di Milano, as a professor of materials technologies.
In 2011 AtelierFORTE was invited to participate at MIAW2, the second edition of Milan International Architectural Workshop, organized by Politecnico di Milano.
From 2003 AtelierFORTE organizes the summer course StugaProject in the Swedish forests. From 2010 there is another corse called Voyager, inspired by cultural achievement travelling. These experiences are reserved to students or young architect and designer.
Main recent exhibitions and works
2014
Sleipnir Meano – Permanent installation – Borgo dei Creativi, Meano (BS)
Sleipnir Tidonis – Permanent installation – CArD, Pianello Val Tidone
Sleipnir Cine – Temporary installation at Open, Lido di Venezia
Sleipnir Spiken II – Permanent installation, Grythyttan, Svezia
Sleipnir Park – Temporary installation, Giardini Indro Montanelli, Milano
Harpago Salis – Temporary installation, Magazzini del Sale, Venezia
Sleipnir 1861 – Temporary installation, Piazza Carignano, Torino
Sleipnir XXXIII – Temporary installation, Triennale di Milano
Sleipnir Lúg – Temporary installation, Lugano, Canton Ticino (CH)
2013
Sleipnir Alea – Temporary installation, ART.4, Fossano (CN)
Sleipnir Volta – Temporary installation, Streetscape2, Como
The centuries long detail – Collective exhibit, Cheongju International Craft Biennale, South Korea
Sleipnir Argus Junior – Temporary installation, Trepponti di Comacchio (FE)
Sleipnir Bok – Permanent installation, Grythyttan, Svezia
Sleipnir Argus – Permanent installation, Casa Museo Remo Brindisi, Lido di Spina, Comacchio (FE)
Semi-Equi – Double solo exhibit, GAM Galleria d’arte moderna Genova Nervi
Sleipnir Drusi – Installazione permanente, Libera Università di Bolzano
Sleipnir Steam – Permanent installation, Fabbrica del Vapore, Milano
Castra Exemplorum – Temporary installation, Fabbrica del Vapore, Milano
2012
Huginn – Temporary installation, Paratissima, Turin
Sleipnir Automatum – Permanent installation at Grythyttan, Sweden
Sleipnir Thermarum – Permanent installation at Terme del Bacucco, Viterbo
Eva-sioni – Exhibit, Palazzo Vernazza, Lecce
Il Volo dei Corvi – Presentation of sculpture HugMun, AtelierFORTE, Milan
Le Segrete di Pastrengo – Collective exhibit, Pastrengo, Milan
Bois de Boulon by Missoni – Set, Milan
Flux III + HugMun II – Misiad Milano si autoproduce, La Fabbrica del vapore, Milan
Convivalis + HugMun I – Tabarellis, SpazioRT, Milan
Desk SKV – Capi d’opera, curated by Ugo La Pietra, Fondazione Cologni, Palazzo Morando, Milan
Huginn&Muninn – Sauna, Piacenza
Sleipnir Lambrus – Installation at Officina Temporanea – Ventura Lambrate District, Milan
SKELETOMACHIA, solo exhibit by Duilio Forte, Teatro Franco Parenti, Milan
STRUTTURE DEL NORD, Solo exhibit by Duilio Forte, ONO Arte Contemporanea, Bologna
2011
ASGARD – Solo exhibit, AtelierFORTE
La Casa di Ulisse, curated by Alessandro Guerriero, La Fabbrica del vapore, Milano
Phoenix Turris – 012 Profetica, curated by Fortunato D’Amico and Chiara Canali, Torino
Sleipnir Ex Silva – Permanent installation at Politecnico di Milano
Opening of the art gallery Ono Arte Contemporanea, Bologna
Mammuthus Belli – Temporary Installation at Mediateca degli Atellani and Terme di porta Romana, Milano
La Foresta di Sleipnir – Temporary Installation at Rotonda della Besana, Milano
SCRIBUS – 20 designer at Biologiska, curated by Fredrik Farg and Emma Marga Blanche, Stockholm
Sleipnir Biologiska – Temporary Installation at Biologiska Museet, Stoccolma
2010
SLEIPNIR – Solo exhibit, AtelierFORTE
Fafnir, IL TESORO DI BOMISA, Triennale di Milano
WOOD 2010, Virserum Art Museum, Svezia
Sleipnir Convivalis Quintus – XII Biennale di Architettura, Venezia
Sleipnir Ratatoskr – Permanent Installation in Grythyttan, Svezia
Sleipnir Albus – Temporary Installation in Capalbio (GR)
Ospiti inaspettati, Casa Boschi di Stefano, Milano
Sleipnir Trebuchet – Temporary Installation at Triennale Bovisa, Milano
Sleipnir Troll, Spazio RT, Milano
Isflamma – International ice & fire art festival, Hallefors, Svezia
before 2009
Sideropithecus Fortis – Affetti da cretinismo, via Pastrengo, Milano
Sleipnir Nuncius – Temporary Installation at Vittoriale degli Italiani, Gardone Riviera (BS)
ArkiZoic Obsessio, Solo exhibit by Duilio Forte, Fortezza da Basso, Firenze
Sleipnir Florentia – Temporary Installation at Fortezza da Basso, Firenze
Yggdrasill Steneby – Solo exhibit by Duilio Forte, Dåls Långed, Svezia
Sleipnir Venexia – Temporary Installation at XI Biennale di Architettura di Venezia
Sleipnir Spiken – Permanent Installation at Grythyttan, Svezia
2014: Catalogo TDM7 Triennale di Milano, Il Giornale, Il Corriere della Sera, Madame Figaro, La Stampa
2013: Inventario, Artribune, TicinoSette, Arkitekten, Interni, Ottagono, Il Resto del Carlino, La Nuova Ferrara
2012: Wired, Norr Magazin, Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, Elle Decor, Sky Arte
2011 CasaVOGUE, Elle Corea, DCasa, GCasa, Design Diffusion News, Rai5
2010 NewYork Times, Domus, Sole 24 Ore, Corriere della sera, BundPic Cina
Until 2009 Nordisk Interior, Abitare, Interni, Of Arch, Lotus, Bravacasa, La Repubblica