Forum Florum: Herbarium of the Present at Milan Design Week 2026 by Marcin Rusak Studio
Marcin Rusak Studio presents Forum Florum: Herbarium of the Present Milan Design Week 2026 exhibition at SIAM in Milan, an exhibition that brings together botanical research and material experimentation through a new body of sculptural works and installations. Imagined as both an artistic and educational platform, the project situates itself within the intense context of Milan Design Week 2026 while proposing a slower, reflective engagement with nature, biodiversity, and contemporary material culture.
Hosted at SIAM (Society for the Encouragement of Arts and Crafts), a historic institution in central Milan known for its educational and cultural programming, Forum Florum unfolds as an open forum rather than a conventional exhibition. The setting enables Marcin Rusak Studio to engage a diverse audience of designers, students, and visitors through a spatial narrative that moves between contemplation and interaction. Sculptures, installations, and functional objects are arranged to encourage proximity, positioning the exhibition as both a display and a site of inquiry into ecological consciousness and design responsibility.
The concept of the herbarium operates as both a symbolic and technical framework. Traditionally associated with the preservation of plant specimens, it is reinterpreted here through contemporary design and material innovation. Marcin Rusak Studio embeds organic matter within resin and laminated glass, transforming botanical fragments into enduring artefacts that function as memory capsules. These works extend beyond preservation, documenting the current state of plant life while addressing broader themes of temporality, decay, and transformation. The approach aligns with collectible design and installation practices, where material processes carry conceptual weight.
At the core of the Marcin Rusak’s exhibition is Flower Journey, a large-scale installation that acts as a narrative threshold. Constructed through a combination of 3D printing and bronze casting, the structure references unfinished Gothic architecture and Art Nouveau ornamentation. It traces the global history of the cut flower industry, revealing the systems of cultivation and distribution that underpin contemporary consumption. Beyond it, Plant Pulses introduces a multisensory installation developed in collaboration with Perrier-Jouët, where plant ultrasound recordings—captured by researchers from AGH University in Cracow—are translated into sound and visual compositions through artistic collaboration. Together, these installations expand the exhibition into an immersive environment.
The presentation also introduces new furniture and collectible design pieces, including large-scale herbarium panels, a shelving system, a coffee table, and a mirror that extend the Flora series. These works are displayed within a domestic scenography, allowing visitors to engage with them physically and spatially. Complementing these pieces are biodegradable 3D-printed sconces and the Protoplasting Nature Chair, recently acquired by the Centre Pompidou, reinforcing the studio’s ongoing exploration of material cycles and preservation. With Forum Florum: Herbarium of the Present Milan Design Week 2026 exhibition, Marcin Rusak Studio continues to position design as a medium for ecological reflection and material research.
All images courtesy of Marcin Rusak
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