“Inspired in Barcelona: Matèria Prima” transforms the creative process into a sensory journey during Milan Design Week

“Inspired in Barcelona: Matèria Prima” is an installation presented during Milan Design Week 2026, from 20 to 26 April 2026, that offers a sensory journey exploring the origins of creativity through two essential ingredients of Mediterranean culture: bread and olive oil. The exhibition uses these fundamental elements of Mediterranean gastronomy as metaphors for the ideation process and for the search for balance that defines design practice. It is curated by the architecture studio Queralt Suau, with the participation of designer Andreu Carulla.

The installation is organised by the Barcelona Creativity & Design Foundation and promoted by the Barcelona City Council’s Department of Culture and Creative Industries through Disseny Hub Barcelona (DHub), and by the Government of Catalonia through ACCIÓ – Catalonia Trade & Investment.

The exhibition journey unfolds through a sequence of scenes that invite visitors to experience this metaphor: from contemplating the “oil auroras” and their mechanism – a moving table that seeks to balance a continuous flow – to photographer Txema Salvans’ portraits of creatives from the Catalan ecosystem, which evoke creative balance; and finally, to a participatory experience designed by Andreu Carulla, where visitors can play with oil, create their own auras, and conclude the journey by tasting a bread specially created to be dipped in olive oil.

 

Credits 

Curatorial concept and exhibition design: Queralt Suau

Exhibition graphics and communication: RUN Design

Creatius en equilibri: Txema Salvans

Sucar-hi pa: Andreu Carulla

The installation is organised by Barcelona Creativity & Design Foundation and promoted by Barcelona City Council’s Department of Culture and Creative Industries through Disseny Hub Barcelona (DHub), and by the Government of Catalonia through ACCIÓ – Catalonia Trade & Investment.

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Inspired in Barcelona: Matèria Prima

Dates: 20–26 April 2026

Opening hours:

21-25 April: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm

26 April: 10 am to 3 pm

Venue: Chiesa del Carmine, Salone Scalabrini, Via del Carmine 10