Francesco Faccin gives voice to invisible support
At Francesco Faccin’s The Piedistalli, the pedestal emerges from the depths and asserts its own presence. Presented at the Galleria Giustini / Stagetti in Rome, the reportthe result of a long-term research, traces almost two decades of research into the cultural, symbolic and spatial role of the object whose mission is to support art. Rather than functioning as a neutral base, the pedestal emerges here as an active device that shapes perception, directs attention, and mediates the relationship between the artwork and the viewer.
For the Italian designer, the podium is never passive. Through height, materiality, proportion and placement, it shapes the conditions through which objects are seen and understood. The exhibition proposes a poetic yet radical rethinking of this overlooked architectural element, framing it as a threshold between the artwork and the world.
all images from Omar Lostcourtesy of Galleria Giustini / Stagetti
Piedistalli: twenty years of continuous experimentation
Historically, the podium has long held symbolic weight. From antiquity to museums and public monuments, elevated objects have been given respect and authority simply by being removed from ground level. During neoclassicism, pedestals reinforced ideals of order and formal discipline, while avant-garde movements of the twentieth century began to dismantle these hierarchies. Figures such as Marcel Duchamp and Constantin Brâncuși challenged the separation between sculpture and support, with Brâncuși in particular breaking down the distinction altogether by treating the plinth as an integral part of the work itself.
At the center of Piedistalli is a collection of mostly unseen originals spanning different moments of Faccin’s practice. Works from the Assemblaggi series from 2000, Serial Planks from 2016 and Regina. Della Scultura from 2021 charts the evolution of this ongoing research, revealing the designer’s enduring fascination with the silent structures that frame objects and regulate the gaze.
in Francesco Faccin’s Piedistalli, the pedestal emerges from the depths
sculptural supports in iron, pyrex and aluminum
Each pedestal suggests a gesture. Some encourage viewers to look up, others down. some isolate, protect or elevate, while others invite intimacy or confrontation. Together, they choreograph the movement within the gallery space, turning the viewing into a physical and perceptual experience.
Throughout the exhibition, Faccin works with a wide range of materials including wrought iron, cast iron, solid wood, galvanized sheet metal, Pyrex and stainless steel. Each material introduces its own visual language and tactile intensity, sometimes resonating with the displayed objects and sometimes creating sharp contrast. The resulting pieces function simultaneously as functional props and stand-alone sculptures.
On top of these structures is a curated selection of objects from the designer’s personal collection alongside pieces from the Giustini/Stagetti archive. Historical works appear next to what Faccin describes “travel articles”, spontaneous or vernacular objects collected for their symbolic and emotional appeal.
The exhibition proposes a poetic yet radical rethinking of this overlooked architectural element
the point where an object becomes art
Rather than presenting the pedestal as a fixture of art, Piedistalli reframes it as the precise point where meaning begins to crystallize. The exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the invisible hierarchies embedded in exhibition design itself, exposing the mechanisms through which attention, power and cultural value are constructed.
Giving voice to what Faccin calls the “silent servant”, the work finally shifts the focus to what is usually eluded. Marginal elements are brought to the center and the structures that quietly organize the visual experience are finally allowed to speak.
a threshold between the artwork and the world
historically, the podium has long held symbolic weight
pedestals reinforced ideals of order and formal discipline
at the center of the Piedistalli is a collection of mostly unseen originals
revealing the designer’s enduring appeal
silent structures that frame objects and regulate the gaze
each pedestal suggests a gesture
turning the demonstration into a physical and perceptual experience
Faccin works with a wide range of materials
project information:
name: Pedestals
designer: Francesco Faccin | @studio_francescofaccin
customer: Giustini Gallery – Stagetti
project leader: Alberto Manca
photographer: Omar Lost | @omargolli
designboom received this project from us DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: Thomai Tsibou | designboom
