Unexpected Guests 2 — Valentina Cameranesi Sgroi and Lilo Klinkenberg
The inaugural exhibition within 41, an architectural framework by Omer Arbel
Curated by Johannes Schön
Unexpected Guests 2 brings together the glass sculptures of Valentina Cameranesi Sgroi and the botanical installations of Lilo Klinkenberg within the architectural framework of Omer Arbel's 41. Cameranesi Sgroi’s works, inspired by the organic forms of nature, skillfully shape glass to mimic natural curves, while Klinkenberg’s installations transform the raw beauty of plants into meticulously structured forms and compositions. Together, these elements create a dialogue between natural order and deliberate artistic expression.
Omer Arbel's 41 offers an organisation of space and volume that provides a non-neutral, expressive setting for the presentation of artworks. Constructed from materials such as hay bales, foam, and plywood, 41 creates an adaptable environment in which light, form, and material interact fluidly. Each of the eleven display vitrines acts as a stage, with Cameranesi Sgroi’s glass sculptures in the foreground and Klinkenberg’s botanical installations behind semi-transparent paper screens. These act as canvases on which the silhouettes of the plants are cast as shadows, creating changing shapes throughout the day. The plants themselves are only visible through their delicate, shadowy outlines.
This interplay of shadow and light, reminiscent of shadow puppetry, transforms the showcases into layered compositions where different artistic elements are superimposed. Omer Arbel's architectural framework adds another layer to this dialogue, framing the interaction between light, material, and form. His design not only houses the works, but actively shapes the viewer's experience, engaging the exhibition space in a conversation between the organic, the structured, and the ephemeral.
About Valentina Cameranesi Sgroi
Valentina Cameranesi Sgroi is a Milan-based independent creative director and set designer working both with the design of physical objects and their presentation, through spaces or images. Born in Rome, Valentina began her career studying product design and upon graduating, she started working in the publishing industry and as textile pattern designer. After five years working with Diesel, where she collaborated with creative directors to design the home collections, she opened her freelance practice. Since 2012, Valentina has worked in association with Enrico Pompili: the Cameranesi/ Pompili Studio to develop concepts and projects both for commissioned and self-initiated projects.
About Lilo Klinkenberg
Lilo Klinkenberg is a Berlin born and based floral artist and designer. Her work ranges from small to large-scale botanical installations and sculptures. This year she had her first solo exhibition “Is this even real?" in Berlin, showing six sculptures playing with the real and unreal. Her work "fragments" was part of the group show “Berliner Salon" at Bode Museum. Here she focussed on topiary, the sculpting of hedges. With Studio Lilo, which she founded in 2018, she works internationally for clients such as Flos, Cartier, Loewe, Jil Sander and Google. She studied fashion design at Universität der Künste in Berlin. Today her work includes floral design for fairs, fashion shows, film and photography productions, events and exhibitions.
About Omer Arbel
Omer Arbel is a multidisciplinary artist and designer based in Vancouver. His output is broad, including materials research, lighting design, building design and site specific installations. He is one of two co-founders of Bocci, a Canadian design and manufacturing company.
About The Foundry
Located in Berlin’s historic Reinickendorf neighbourhood, The Foundry is Bocci’s 11,840 sq ft space within the iconic Wilhelm Hallen, an early twentieth-century cast-iron factory. More than just a physical location, The Foundry serves as a dynamic forum for cultural and creative exchange, reflecting Bocci’s deep-rooted connection to Berlin’s vibrant design and cultural scene.
Engineered for versatility, The Foundry is designed to adapt to a range of creative and commercial uses, from intimate commission projects to large-scale exhibitions, film sets, and unique events. This space invites innovation and interaction, offering a platform for both emerging and established artists, designers, and brands to bring their visions to life.
Central to The Foundry’s identity is its role as a canvas for experimentation and introspection. It will also house Omer Arbel’s architectural framework 41, a permanent architectural installation that anchors the venue’s year-round programming. Originally commissioned for the Vancouver Art Gallery, this exhibition system reimagines the relationship between art and space, setting the stage for future exhibitions and cultural events.
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