A truly extraordinary cultural fusion is unfolding in Milan this week, offering a multisensory journey that explores the crossroads of art, heritage, and innovation. The Taste of the Medici and the Dialogue on Technology – Making the Extraordinary Ordinary, now open at the historic San Vittore and Forty Martyrs Complex, invites visitors into a dreamlike realm where 17th- and 18th-century Florentine masterpieces meet the technological ingenuity of modern-day Shenzhen.
Curated by Giacomo Santucci and produced by the YNT Museum, the exhibition is a flagship event of Shenzhen Milan Lifestyle Week, an initiative designed to strengthen the cultural exchange between Italy and China. Promoted by the Hui Foundation with the support of the Shenzhen Industrial Design Professional Association and the Longhua District, the exhibition draws visitors into a poetic conversation between past and future.
Unfolding across eight immersive sections, the show presents a metaphorical voyage aboard two conceptual trains—Prometheus3011 and ZhuRong1956—that symbolically pause at “The Present.” Here, viewers encounter Florentine works by artists like Salvator Rosa and Alessandro Magnasco alongside contemporary Chinese design, fashion from the Miao people of Guizhou, and futuristic installations such as humanoid robot Kuavo. The juxtaposition of ornate history and cutting-edge technology invites contemplation on how creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation transcend borders and eras.
Designed as a “conversation exhibition,” this unique experience encourages viewers to reflect on the connection between mind, heart, and hands—where practical skill meets intellectual thought, and heritage finds new life in digital expression. The exhibition’s goal is both cultural and philosophical: to highlight creativity as a universal language and a timeless bridge toward shared human progress.
Adding to the atmosphere, the show’s opening included a live performance by Leju robots and a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, immersing guests in the exhibition’s core themes of dialogue and harmony.
This Milan Design Week event runs through April 21 and is open to the public from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, offering a must-see stop for design lovers, tech enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the art of cultural fusion.
