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Needle, Thread and Knot

Needle, Thread and Knot (Italian: Ago, Filo e Nodo) is a public artwork in two parts by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen in Piazzale Cadorna, Milan, Italy. Commissioned by the City of Milan as part of the renovations of Milan Cadorna railway station, it was unveiled in February 2000. The sculpture is a fountain made of stainless steel and reinforced plastic, painted with polyester gelcoat and polyurethane enamel. The knot stands in the middle of a fountain in the center of the square, while the sewing needle is placed on the footpath in front of the station. The artists described the needle and thread as a metaphor for a train passing through a tunnel, while the city also saw it as a tribute to Milan’s fashion industry.

Needle, Thread and Knot sculpture in a Milan square, with colorful looping forms beside a tall metallic needle-like structure.
Needle, Thread and Knot stands in a Milan square, framed by colorful loops and a tall metallic form against the city skyline.
July 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Silhouetted Needle, Thread and Knot sculpture rising against a cloudy sky in a public square.
Needle, Thread and Knot stands in an urban square beneath an overcast sky.
July 2014 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Needle, Thread and Knot sculpture rising from a Milan roundabout, with colorful ribbons wrapped around its base.
Needle, Thread and Knot stands in a busy Milan roundabout, with its base wrapped in colorful ribbons.
March 2017 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Needle, Thread and Knot sculpture seen through a dark metal gateway, with pedestrians walking along a paved path in Milan.
Needle, Thread and Knot rises in the distance beyond a gateway in Milan’s Castello Sforzesco area.
March 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
A blue NIVEA tram passes street tracks with parts of the Needle, Thread and Knot sculpture visible above.
A vintage NIVEA tram passes beneath parts of Needle, Thread and Knot near Milano Cadorna.
December 2009 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleNeedle, Thread and Knot
Original title in ItalianAgo, Filo e Nodo
TypeSculpture in two parts

Creator

ArtistsClaes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen
Artists' relationshipMarried couple

Historical context

Date createdLate 1990s
Date unveiledFebruary 2000
Commissioned byCity of Milan
Commission contextMade for the renovation of Milano Cadorna Station and the square in front of it

Physical characteristics

FormA sculpture that is also a fountain
DimensionsAlmost 86 meters long and 18 meters high

Materials

MaterialsStainless steel and reinforced plastic
Surface finishPainted with polyester gelcoat and polyurethane enamel

Appearance

Site contextA key point in Milan's transport network, with Milano Nord Cadorna station and the metro stop of the same name
Thread colorsRed, green, and yellow
Physical arrangementMade in two parts: the knot is in the middle of a fountain in the center of the square, while the sewing needle is on the footpath in front of the train station
DescriptionA gigantic needle with multicolored thread emerging at another point in the square, ending in a knot

Iconography and meaning

Symbolic interpretation by the artistsThe needle pulling thread through fabric is a metaphor for a train going through a tunnel
ConceptThe basic idea is a train entering an underground tunnel
Form symbolismThe sculpture is divided into two parts that are ideally reunited underground, a reference to the metro as a means of rapid urban travel
Additional symbolic referenceThe thread wrapped around a needle paraphrases the city emblem of a snake coiled around a sword
Interpretation by the City of MilanA tribute to Milan's influence in the fashion industry
DedicationA tribute to Milanese industriousness and especially to the world of fashion
Fashion referenceRefers to fashion, with Milan being one of the world's main centers of fashion
Meaning of thread colorsThe colors were selected by the artists to reflect the three Milan Metro lines in service at the time
Interpretation by Gae AulentiAccording to Gae Aulenti, the sculpture also represents a paraphrase of the biscione on the coat of arms of Milan

Location and ownership

LocationPiazzale Cadorna, Milan, Italy

History and restoration

Condition/statusAnnounced in 2012 that the work would soon be restored
Restoration authorityThe Municipality of Milan