"I liked the idea that a tragic occurrence as the pandemic could set the start and inspire positive ideas for a new beginning," said the eclectic designer and artist while presenting his new exhibition "Stefano Chiassai: Beyond Lockdown. Drawings, Fabrics, Colors" curated by Paola Maddaluno, hosted at ADI Design Museum-Compasso D'Oro, in Milan, inaugurated at the beginning of March and open until 4 April 2023.
The same section also hosts apparel and design pieces like crystal tables, carpets, tapestry, armchairs and other exclusive design objects reproducing the designer's imaginary world created by the designer.
"The idea was born from taking notes for a private notebook of emotions, thoughts and fragments of daily life, like a sort of antidote to the sense of fear and uncertainty generated by the occurrences of those days," he explained.
"Those daily notes then became drawings, and later tapestry, wallpaper but also fabrics, clothes, furniture, design objects and a book," he added showing a vast graphic world representing his lively, colorful, graphic and optimistic thoughts inspiring an urge for rebirth.
Exactly three years after the first drawing, the works, exhibited in chronological order, are a testimony to the feelings and concerns that have engulfed the entire world. Starting with Words in the Dark. Bla, Bla, Bla, Let’s open our mouths to talk about positive things from 8 March 2020, Chiassai uses crowded images full of details and symbols to portray an everyday life of contradictions, words, experiences and expectations. Prisoners at home. 
Other works included Our Hearts Will Defeat the Monster tells of the weeks of isolation through a whirlwind of hearts, viruses, closed doors, and eyes, whereas Back To Open Doors With Discipline, Hope, But Also Many Unknowns recreates the first days of reopening through words such as future, work, hope, and images of shops and people.
The series of drawings concludes with the work from 31 December 2020, in which the dark, negative old year encounters the brightness and colors of the new year, wishing a return to normality and rebirth.
Following this exhibition a sequel project will follow and will be hosted in Florence, at Museo delle Murate in September 2023.
Stefano Chiassai studied at Florence Art Institute. In 1980, he created his own eponymous brand ‘Stefano Chiassai’, and a few years later, in 1985, he and his wife Alessandra founded SCS Studio Chiassai.
In 1994, he discontinued his own label and concentrated on stylistic and trend consultancies for numerous luxury brands. Since 2009, also due to the support of his team, he has been the designer of the Fendi Uomo menswear collection.
The Tuscan artist has also amassed 20,000 vintage garments, now kept in the The Cube Archive, a meeting place for stylists, artists, musicians, students and creative people eager to interconnect.
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