Snowdrop, flamingo, Modern Solid. Škoda heads to Milan

Škoda Auto has prepared a real treat for the visitors of this year's Milan Design Week. For this design exhibition  in the fashion capital, the brand has created a unique concept that blends the Modern Solid design language with sculptures by artist Marcantonio. Take a behind-the-scenes look at their creation.

28. 3. 2025 Models Elroq

The star of Škoda Auto's Milan exhibition stand will be the new Elroq, the brand's first car to bring the Modern Solid design language to customers. It will make its public debut in the sporty RS version. The sculptures and scenes in the exhibition captivatingly present themes associated to the Elroq. The flamingo, for example, highlights movement, while an interactive display featuring a raccoon is designed especially for children—the animal´s eyes will project landscapes and driving scenes simulations onto an LED screen.

A road disappearing into the clouds symbolizes the Elroq's ability to go anywhere, even to the skies. Another sculpture represents a streetlamp in the form of a snowdrop. The exhibition also includes a holographic projection of a hummingbird drinking nectar from a flower.

"The Modern Solid design language takes the shapes of our cars to the Next Level. Milan Design Week is an incredibly inspiring event, and we are thrilled to present our design and values to beauty and elegance enthusiasts from around the world in collaboration with Marcantonio," explains Martin Jahn, Board Member for Sales and Marketing.

Italian sculptor Marcantonio was responsible not only for the sculptures but also for the overall concept of the exhibition, allowing him to work with both individual elements and the space itself. A pathway winds through the entire pavilion, inviting visitors to explore. "A space should have an idea; it should be an experience. If Škoda cars allow us to discover new horizons every day, why not offer an exploration of different elements of the car? I liked the concept of a journey, so I started with that and added a touch of lightness and playfulness," comments Marcantonio on the display.

"It starts with a spark, an idea that excites me. First, I sketch by hand to see if it works visually. Then begins the long process of 3D modelling," the artist describes his creative process. However, his favourite part is the craftsmanship, where the sculpture starts to take shape through meticulous handwork. The preparation may involve wood, iron, or polystyrene, but the final piece is made of fiberglass for its durability and lightness.

Umělec Marcantonio při práci na sochách do expozice Škoda Auto

Digitální návrhy soch do expozice Škoda Auto

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The Škoda Auto pavilion offers something for everyone and works harmoniously as a whole. The exhibition also has two faces—daytime and evening—so visitors can experience it twice with different impressions each time. "I love all the sculptures for different reasons, and each one presented its own challenge. I like the Snowdrop for its large format and visual elegance. The most complex was the Flamingo, due to the complexity of its internal structure, and the flower for the hummingbird," Marcantonio adds.

A car, in its own way, is also a sculpture. The design of each new model is born through a process that is, in essence, a form of art. "Form is expressed through lines, volumes, and cavities, through the harmony created by individual elements, the interplay between concave and convex shapes. A car, in every sense, is a sculpture," confirms Marcantonio.

Milan Design Week is open to the public from April 8 to 13. The Škoda pavilion is located in the heart of the city—inside the courtyard of the Padiglione di Arte Contemporanea, a modern art museum in the Porta Venezia district. Visitors in Milan are also invited to the Škoda exhibition through mystery boxes placed around the city, specifically at Luigi Cadorna Square, Gae Aulenti Square, and XXIV Maggio Square.

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