From Milan to Stockholm: Our Rugs Reunite in an Exhibition Curated by Lidewij Edelkoort and Philip Fimmano

After being presented at two consecutive editions of Milan Design Week, Tree of Joy and Vigilant Gorilla will come together once again. The two rugs produced by El Espartano were selected by Lidewij Edelkoort for INNER CHILD: Playing with Design, an exhibition opening on 10 October at Artipelag, one of Stockholm’s leading destinations for art and design.

Created especially for Artipelag by Lidewij Edelkoort and Philip Fimmano, INNER CHILD will bring together the work of one hundred international artists and designers across eight thematic chapters and will run until 11 April 2027. The exhibition explores playfulness, imagination and the human need to create by hand through sculptural furniture, handcrafted objects, textiles and installations. Participants include Maarten Baas, Front, Yinka Ilori, Max Lamb, Gustaf Westman, Victoria Yakusha and Pierre Yovanovitch, among others.

Our participation brings together two pieces originally developed for our presentations in Milan under Edelkoort’s curatorship. Tree of Joy is part of Garden, the collection presented in 2024, and is based on designs by Brazilian artist Sergio Machado, drawing on his collage-inspired visual language. Vigilant Gorilla belongs to Instinct, presented in 2025, and is based on a work by Japanese artist Miroco Machiko, known for her intuitive depictions of animals.

Both rugs were produced in Argentina by our Design & Sustainability Lab using the hand-tufting technique and are made entirely from wool. Originally developed for two different projects in Milan, they now come together again in the same exhibition and within a new international context.

Located in the Stockholm Archipelago, Artipelag is a museum and cultural destination dedicated to art, design and nature. Our participation in INNER CHILD extends the international journey of these pieces, bringing them into an exhibition that gathers different perspectives on contemporary creativity.

Save the date

INNER CHILD: Playing with Design
Curated by Lidewij Edelkoort and Philip Fimmano
Artipelag, Stockholm, Sweden
10 October 2026 – 11 April 2027