Heritage Landscapes vol.64

For centuries, silk has been one of the most valuable commodities along Eurasian trade routes; yet the history of its production in Europe and the cultural heritage associated with it are difficult to reconstruct and access. ADASilk (Advanced Data Analysis for Silk Heritage) was created to make this heritage more accessible by bringing together information from international museums, collections, and archives.

Based on the knowledge graph from the SILKNOW project, the digital archive contains nearly 40,000 fabric records, accompanied by images and data on provenance, production period, materials, and techniques. An exploratory search engine and timeline maps allow users to investigate the relationships between artifacts, places, and eras, offering new research opportunities to scholars, fashion professionals, and the general public.

The project is named after Ada Lovelace, a British mathematician considered a pioneer of computer science, and transforms scattered knowledge into a shared resource for the promotion of textile heritage.

Four dynamic sculptures transform scientific and environmental data into a visual and interactive experience, making otherwise invisible phenomena—ones that are part of our daily lives—perceptible. Air and noise pollution, microplastics, and permafrost thaw take shape through works that blend technology and research. The data comes from scientific sources such as the WHO, NASA, the European Environment Agency, and the WWF, in a project that demonstrates how visualization can transform large amounts of information into immediate understanding, prompting reflection on the role of data in comprehending the impact of our actions on the environment and our health.

On October 20, Colombo’s Archive—Antonio Colombo’s “Living Archive”—opened in Milan, a research space that weaves together industry, design, cycling, and contemporary art. Through documents, drawings, photographs, prototypes, and objects, the archive chronicles over a century of history, tracing the thread that links industrial production to design. From experiments with steel tubing for modern furniture to innovations in the world of bicycles, the collection reveals a history shaped by intuition and cross-pollination. It is a place where visitors can discover how business, creativity, and a passion for collecting can come together to give rise to new avenues of research.

Credits:  ADASilk, Google Arts & Culture, Colombo’s Archive.