The world-famous Italian notebook brand is ready to take fans on a creative journey in London with MoleskineDetour 2.0, an experimental exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, running from 2-15 September 2023. Following successful editions in Shanghai, Paris and New York, the travelling Detour group exhibition is landing in the UK, displaying over 1,500 artworks. More than 100 creative minds from the worlds of art, cinema, music, architecture and food have been asked to use the legendary notebook as a blank canvas, reflecting on the role of creativity to drive social change. With values such as knowledge and individual expression at the core of its DNA, Moleskine is committed to championing young talents, and promoting educational and cultural experiences among disadvantaged communities through its Foundation.  

‘Creativity lies in every one of us and the Moleskine mission is to help coax that gift forward. We hope the exhibition will encourage everyone to tap into the power of their ideas and creativity,’ says Daniela Riccardi, Moleskine’s CEO.

The outcome is a compelling selection of bespoke pieces divided into four themes: Metamorphosis, Memory, Borders and Imagination. Among them are the work of architect Toyo Ito, film director Spike Jonze, avant-garde designer Ron Arad, three-Michelin starred chef Heinz Beck and the art curator Hans Ulrich Obrist. In addition, Moleskine partnered with British artist Hanna Marshall, translating her installation piece Black + Light into a limited-edition notebook, Voice Book. It aims to recreate Marshall’s touching performance in which she beautifully blurs the lines between sound and light-design.

The brand, founded in Milan in the late ’90s, pays homage to the iconic black cover notebook popular among the artistic community of Paris at the end of the 19th century, and used by such names as Picasso, Hemingway and Chatwin.

Detour London takes place at the Saatchi Gallery, 2-15 September 2023; moleskine.com; moleskinefoundation.org; saatchigallery.com