Olympic art project in a Milan park invites the public to ‘reflect’ on the Games’ spirit

A collective art project in Milan is inviting Olympic spectators and local residents to share their thoughts about sports through a unique installation of mirrored “flowers” throughout a public park.

The initiative, called “Together to Reflect,” features slender stakes topped with mirrors on which visitors write personal reflections about what sports and the Olympic Games mean to them. The interactive display has transformed a section of the Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano (BAM), a centrally located public park in the 2026 Winter Olympics host city.

Anthony Cardamone discovered the project while scrolling through Instagram and decided to visit with his wife and 7-year-old daughter last Sunday, which was designated as the public writing day for the installation.

“For me, sport is about being together, it’s about sharing and measuring your own abilities,” said Cardamone, whose daughter wrote the word “brave” on one of the dozens of mirrored flowers in the park. “This activity helps her understand why sport is important and how beautiful it can be.”

The collaborative project represents a partnership between BAM and NABA, Milan’s academy of fine arts, aimed at expanding the cultural dimension of the Olympic Games beyond athletic competition.

“When people think about the Olympics, they often think only about sports, but the Games are not just about the athletes and the medals,” explained Francesca Colombo, BAM’s cultural general director. “They are about values and this is where culture is so powerful; because through art — music, dance, ballet — it can transmit these values.”

The installation’s symbolic connection between reflection and introspection is intentional, according to NABA professor Chiara Vico, who helped oversee the project with her students serving as volunteers.

“The idea is that, for a moment, the written thoughts and the person expressing it overlap,” Vico said. “So your reflection and your message become one.”

The mirrors serve both practical and metaphorical purposes, allowing participants to see themselves as they contribute their personal reflections on sportsmanship, competition, and Olympic values.

The project has attracted both purposeful visitors and curious passersby. Roberta Massaccesi, who was walking through BAM when she noticed the mirrors, said her son immediately asked to participate. He contributed a drawing expressing his belief that sports are beneficial for everyone.

“We just went to a hockey match and it was the first time for me and him to join an Olympic event,” Massaccesi said. “It was amazing!”

The art installation represents part of Milan’s broader cultural programming during the Winter Games, which aims to engage local communities and international visitors alike in the Olympic experience beyond sporting venues. Similar cultural initiatives have become increasingly common in Olympic host cities, recognizing that the Games provide an opportunity for cultural exchange and community engagement beyond athletic competition.

As the Winter Olympics continue in Milan and the mountain resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the “Together to Reflect” installation provides a contemplative space for visitors to consider the deeper significance of the international gathering. The mirrors will remain on display throughout the Games, collecting and reflecting the diverse perspectives of those who encounter them.

The project exemplifies how public art can foster community participation and dialogue around shared experiences, using the universal language of sports to connect people across cultural and linguistic barriers during the Olympic Games.