Library of Light by Es Devlin at the Salone

Library of Light by British artist and designer Es Devlin is a monumental kinetic installation commissioned by the Salone del Mobile in collaboration with the Pinacoteca di Brera, Grande Brera, and supported by Feltrinelli.

In the year of Euroluce, Salone del Mobile invited Es Devlin—renowned as a “poet of light”—to create a site-specific work within one of Milan’s most iconic cultural landmarks: the Pinacoteca di Brera. Her inspiration came from a phrase by Umberto Eco, recalled as she ascended the tall shelves of the Braidense National Library: “Books are the compass of the mind; they point to countless worlds yet to be explored.”

At the heart of the 17th-century Cortile d’Onore, which links the Pinacoteca, the Braidense Library, and the Academy of Fine Arts, stands Devlin’s striking centerpiece: an 18-meter-wide, revolving cylindrical sculpture of glowing bookshelves holding over 3,000 volumes.

By day, the sculpture’s angled mirrored top captures and redirects sunlight into hidden corners of the courtyard—onto columns, statues, and architectural details long untouched by natural light. By night, the installation becomes a beacon, casting animated shadows and poetic reflections across the courtyard walls.

Devlin explains: “I have always experienced libraries as silently intense places where minds and imaginations soar, tethered only by their seated bodies. This sculpture reflects the synaptic connections sparked in these spaces—a dynamic network of resonance and association shared by a temporary community of readers.”

Quoting Borges, she continues: “I am not sure that I exist, actually. I am all the writers I have read, all the people I have met, all that I have loved, all the cities I have visited.”

Among the statues of scholars in the Cortile, Devlin encountered only one woman: Maria Gaetana Agnesi, an 18th-century mathematician and philosopher celebrated for her study of natural resonant frequencies, including the behavior of light. Her mathematical curve, la versiera di Agnesi, was long mistranslated as the “Witch of Agnesi.” Devlin notes: “She taught the union of spirituality and intellect through sustained focus. Until I saw her statue, I had never heard of her. ‘Library of Light’ brings her story—her presence—from the margins to the center.”

The vitality of this imagined library is underscored by collective readings. Among them: Benedict Cumberbatch recites passages from The Order of Time by theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli, while Devlin’s own voice reflects on Agnesi’s writings. These voices are accompanied by a soundscape by British duo Polyphonia, featuring excerpts from Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61.

Encircling the structure are over 3,000 books curated and donated by Feltrinelli, aligned with the 2025 Salone del Mobile’s theme: “Thought for Humans.” Each evening at 8:00 PM, readings will be “recited” by the library itself, accompanied by scrolling text on an LED display. Visitors are invited to browse the collection, contribute their own books, and help grow a living archive that will become part of the Milan Library System, continuing the journey of shared knowledge.

This luminous gift to the city transforms the courtyard into a stage for dialogue, where art, literature, craftsmanship, and contemporary reflections converge. Over the course of two weeks, the installation will host a series of thought-provoking gatherings with artists, writers, curators, and innovators.

The opening session will explore weaving as cultural transmission—an ancient practice of preserving memory, tradition, and identity through threads. Special focus will be given to voices from India, which recently hosted the Salone.

Alessandra Carra, CEO of the Feltrinelli Group, reflects: “‘Library of Light’ is a celebration of knowledge in motion—alive, connective, transformative. Books sit at the core of our lives. They challenge and inspire us, helping us shape the future. In this walkable, interactive installation, thoughts and ideas are set free, echoing Feltrinelli’s enduring cultural mission as we mark our 70th anniversary.”