Duilio Forte - An "Outdoor Studioist" in wood and iron A pretty entrenched dramaturgy between different cultures Written by Wolfgang G. Külper / Photos by L.Nencioni & J.Ekmark
A visit to the Studio Forte is an excursion to the unusual. Not far from the Milan Linateairport and the eternally roaring eastern “Tangente”, where there are still meadows and fields, is its (northern Italian) home. From a distance you can already see the delicate, Trojan horse heads that drive adrenaline into the veins of guests. Having barely arrived on the hidden terrain, a powerful, elaborately studded door opened a bit creakily. For a moment only a hat can be seen. It covers Duilio Forte, the exceptional architect and artist. The one, who through his trimmed beard, mischievously looks at you and says briefly "Hello, you wonna see my compound?" and of course with according inviting gestures you are welcomed to a hands-on tour in the so-called workshop or better said compound.
Outside there was already a lot of lumber, but inside the studio you see countless strands and long hook iron joints. Somehow logically, since boards, slats and bars often need a congenial connection. Duilio deforms unruly iron naturally with hot fire. So it hisses, stomps and hammers (with pride) in his venerable factory hall, which is perhaps more like a working studio. Partly a bit oracular. The bustling and noise may seem chaotic to spectators, but the chaos turns out to be orderly through systematically placed tools, chalk described sketch boards, flickering monitors, proper pincer mounts and miscellaneous scattered utensils on solid work benches and on the walls. As such Forte’s neatness finally governs the Studio.
Here, he wraps up and explains the meaning of his diverse projects to his visitors with not so many, but very informative words. An important project was the Venetian Biennale of Architecture, where he created a look into the future with other artists around him. Of course with his “Sleipnir” in a scale of 1 to 5. Must been an honor for him to have participated at the Biennale.
We go on. By the way, he delegated his people with an agreeable voice of super cool nature and distributed his spirited cheering calls sparingly. The continued crackling atmosphere could not be better. "For me, it is important not to span the bow too much, otherwise we get bogged down", saying this quite seriously, but with a triumphant grin behind his brunette beard.
No matter where you stay on his compound, it is for you (as a neutral) repeatedly striking: as already said, with almost everything made of wood and iron and hardly any other materials. Plastic would be a breach of style. And should you cast a rough visual eye over the countless buildings of the Atelier Forte, the Swedish Red plays a strong role as does the Italian terrazzo Brown. You can feel a warm airflow which crosses sometimes a cool stream at the same time; exactly as if he creatively requires such opposition. This is probably because he is half Swedish, half Italian. "Javist" is as familiar to him as "si si", as he apparently is a life-affirming primordial form.
He would not commit himself however, to which nation he likes most and says diplomatically: "I love the Nordic tradition as well as the history of the Roman Empire". His quite unusual logo for example has 3 arrow axes with a cube in the middle; it could be just as well in Greek mythology as it is from the Viking-age. Perhaps, he gets from this sign his power and his tendency to mysticism.
In his spare time, he indulges in nature and proclaims: "Tuscany, Provence, the Orkney Islands and the majestic forests of Scandinavia are equally my eternal favorites".
At least once in the year he breaks up that which he can’t relinquish. His always inspiring "Stuga" project has run now for several years. Sweden, it has become known beyond the borders. Some exercising can be done beforehand in his garden in Milan. But here in the wild nature, unspoiled landscape of the North, sometimes in the middle of lonely, quiet Swedish woods you can discover his stalking, almost giraffe-or equine match formations (but without the dangerous red phosphorus heads) being built by a group of colorful assembled construction students as well as nature lovers. "Sleipnir" his buildings are called. The Sleipnir clan is a group of early medieval interested parties, dealing with the appearance of Viking culture of the late 9th to the early 11th century A.D. This is done through regular dramatic participation in events with historical background in Scandinavia, the British Isles and Northern Germany. And indeed Duilio almost rips a limb every summer to deliver part of this culture, his craftsmanship continuing to demonstrate the relationship between his Swedish mother and power-giving nature.
Back to the roots!
Sometimes these constructs become buildings, i.e. you can go up a staircase to them and look at the forests and meadows from lofty heights. Some are housing, even a sauna. "A bath tub does not always need solid ground under your feet." Because in the Scandinavian wilderness it is quite possible to see a passing wolf or bear through the loopholes, which can freeze your blood in the veins and that should not be - or? ", says the master, still continuing:" The reason is that a stressed human being can enjoy the silence of the forest much better and safer in airy treetop heights.� Which once again Duilio Forte puts quite aptly, since his vision concentrates on the connection between nature, culture and his extraordinary architecture. www.atelierforte.com