12 March 2026 – On the occasion of FuoriSalone 2026, Fidenza Village, one of The Bicester Collection’s 12 shopping destinations worldwide, takes part in the exhibition-event INTERNI MATERIAE with the iconic sculpture Wild Kong by French artist Richard Orlinski. A monumental presence set to catch the eye of the many visitors who will arrive at the Università degli Studi di Milano from 20 to 30 April.

Wild Kong will be the standout: a three-metre-tall red resin sculpture by the contemporary pop artist, presented in collaboration with Galleria Deodato Arte and with the support of curator Luca Bravo. For the fourth year alongside INTERNI, the interior and contemporary design magazine edited by Gilda Bojardi, Fidenza Village strengthens its role as a cultural promoter across fashion, art, design and creativity, in a contemporary narrative that goes beyond shopping, creating experiences that surprise and engage an increasingly global audience. With its primal energy and the sculptural tension of its surfaces, the work has an absolute scenic presence, in perfect dialogue with the theme of the 2026 edition, dedicated to the technical and experimental value of materials and the new frontiers of design. Wild Kong makes us think, unsettles, draws the eye and, at the same time, prompts a deep reflection on human nature. In this way, Orlinski’s giant sculpture embodies one of the fundamental pillars of Fidenza Village’s cultural programme: taking art outside traditional contexts, making it accessible, experiential and an integral part of the contemporary landscape.

Born Wild: the meaning of the Wild Kong sculpture

The gorilla is one of the most iconic subjects in Orlinski’s work: there are three versions – Thinker Kong, Wild Kong and Wild Kong Oil – which give shape to the concept of Born Wild, a meditation on the constant tension between instinct and consciousness, strength and vulnerability. In Thinker Kong, the animal’s physicality gathers into a contemplative pose, a contemporary homage to Rodin’s The Thinker, and in Wild Kong Oil the gesture of hurling an oil barrel introduces a clear environmental urgency; but it is in Wild Kong that this narrative reaches its greatest intensity: the wide-open mouth and bared teeth evoke a primal power that coexists with an emotional, almost tender dimension. The result is a subtle allegory in which the animal becomes a mirror of humankind.

After Design Week, Wild Kong arrives at Fidenza Village

In this context, Wild Kong is the most immediate and tangible expression of Fidenza Village’s vision: taking art outside traditional contexts, making it accessible, immersive and an integral part of the contemporary landscape. A vision that translates into a destination able to stimulate individual expression through choices, style, movement and desires, promoting a culture of beauty that is accessible, surprising and deeply contemporary.

In this dialogue between art and space, the concept of “wild” is not a synonym for chaos, but for a positive energy that finds its own aesthetic, its own elegance and a recognisable language. An invitation to look beyond the object and rediscover – as Orlinski suggests – the power of art to elevate everyday life, even in the present.

At the end of Design Week, Wild Kong will be moved to Fidenza Village, where it will become part of a diffused art trail, helping to turn the destination into a true open-air museum that now counts 29 works of art. From May, the presence of the work will enrich the visitor experience, inviting guests to experience the space not only as a place for shopping, but as a dynamic environment of discovery, creativity and inspiration.

“Italy has always been a great source of inspiration for me,” says Richard Orlinski. “At Fidenza Village, my sculptures come to life in an open space, where they enter into dialogue with Italian culture and design, becoming part of the landscape and inviting visitors to experience art in a spontaneous and emotional way.”

ABOUT

Fidenza Village

Part of The Bicester Collection and located a short distance from the birthplace of Giuseppe Verdi, Fidenza Village is home to more than 120 open-air boutiques surrounded by a wonderful panorama.

Here you will find not only boutiques from luxury fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands, with savings of up to 70% off the recommended retail price all year round, but also restaurants and bars where you can enjoy the renowned cuisine of Emilia-Romagna or try international dishes, served all day, or grab a quick snack. We also offer our guests a range of services to make their visit unforgettable, such as the multilingual Concierge service, Personal Shopper, Hands-free Shopping and Fidenza Village at Home.

Open seven days a week and less than an hour from Milan, the world-famous capital of fashion, the Village is easily reachable by car or train.

Richard Orlinski

One of the world’s most acclaimed French artists, Richard Orlinski has built an instantly recognisable language in which totemic animals and pop-culture references merge with luminous surfaces and Cubist-inspired geometries. His works, made mainly of resin or aluminium, inhabit a borderland between art, luxury and collective imagination, with a declared ambition: to make art accessible without giving up conceptual strength.

Since his public debut in 2004 with a red resin crocodile, the first appearance of the Born Wild series, Orlinski has exhibited in more than 200 galleries worldwide and in leading venues such as Art Basel, FIAC and the Palace of Versailles, and has entered renowned private collections. Since 2015 he has been the best-selling contemporary French artist in the world, a recognition that reflects his ability to tap into a cross-cultural imaginary. His open-air installations have redefined some of the most iconic urban settings, from Lincoln Road in Miami Beach to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and the Champs-Élysées, while collaborations with brands such as Hublot, Porsche and Disney have consolidated his identity as a “cross-market” artist, able to move naturally between art and the creative industry. Richard Orlinski is represented in Italy by Galleria Deodato Arte.

Deodato Arte: excellence and innovation in Pop and Street Art

Deodato Arte is a group dedicated to contemporary art, with a network of 10 locations and internationally recognised positioning. The group represents and promotes established international artists, developing exhibition projects and initiatives with a strong cultural and media impact. Through an integrated approach combining curation, advisory and design, Deodato Arte creates strategic collaborations with brands, institutions and partners, building tailor-made experiences and projects that connect art, business and innovation, and contributing to the spread of contemporary art on an international scale.