Pangea’s giant textiles transform the University of Milan’s cloister into an 'Oasis of Happiness'

Photography: Alessandro Dipierro

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Mystical symbols and hand-sewn emblems embellish a series of giant textile ‘gates’ suspended in the serene cloister of the University of Milan – a vibrant installation by art duo Pangea.

Artists Colombine Jubert and Laëtitia Rouget combine colour, texture and meaning in Oasis of Happiness, on show during Milan Design Week (7–17 April 2025). The eight monumental textile works, made by hand, respond to the courtyard’s Renaissance architecture and riff on the Fuori Salone festival’s ‘CRE-ACTION’ theme as they billow in the breeze, activating the space.

Symbols representing joy and connection are created through a mix of patchwork and embroidery. The hand represents the act of reaching out to others, while a plant symbolises harmony with nature and the restorative power of the natural world.

Drawing especially on Chinese symbolism, Pangea weave in cross-cultural references: the moon and stars evoke the infinite cosmos and timeless connection, while the bean or seed signifies growth and transformation.

A more literal expression of the installation’s theme appears in the letters scattered across the textiles, spelling out CONNEXION.

After its run in Milan, Oasis of Happiness will travel to Fidenza Village, in Verdi country, where it will be reimagined along a high-footfall pathway. Fidenza is one of 12 Villages in The Bicester Collection – a boutique open-air shopping destination with an ambitious cultural programme including street murals, public sculpture and art installations.