acqua di parma presents the sense of classic at palazzo cusani

acqua di parma presents the sense of classic at palazzo cusani
(above) diego perrone, ‘la fusione della campana’, 2007
resina epossidica, polistirolo, ferro / epoxy resin, polystyrene, iron / 500 x 800 x 350 cm
courtesy of the artist / galleria massimo de carlo milano-london
all photos © a.osio

I’ll be there forever / the sense of classic
palazzo cusani, milan
now through june 4, 2015

within italy’s seventeenth-century palazzo cusani in milan, acqua di parma presents ‘I’ll be there forever – the sense of classic’. the major exhibition looks at the dialogue between classic and contemporary through the lens of some of the most interesting italian artists of today. curated by cloe piccoli, art critic and art director of acqua di parma contemporary art projects, the show sheds light on how artists engage with a concept that recurs throughout the ages, such as those of phidias, the renaissance and facets of modernism.

‘la fusione della campana’, 2007

rosa barba, massimo bartolini, simone berti, alberto garutti, armin linke, diego perrone and paola pivi have realized site-specific works for the rooms and courtyards of the historic palace. each have interpreted the notion of ‘classic’ in surprising ways, drawing from their own memories, materials and technologies in the interpretation of the theme.

‘I’ll be there forever – the sense of classic’ features sculptures, large-scale installations, films, paintings and photographs, which sees the selection of artists approach major artistic styles and creators like giotto, leonardo da vinci, the cinema of tarkovsky and fellini, and classical architecture.

‘la fusione della campana’, 2007

the exhibition opens with ‘la fusione della campana’, an imposing sculpture by diego perrone from 2007, a reminder that an acute awareness of classical and historical themes is an overarching theme in the work of these artists. ‘I’ll be there forever’ continues with a sequence of works in the courtyards, gardens and rooms, punctuated by baroque stuccoes and marquetry. the artists offer a multifaceted view of the idea of the classic, interpreting ancient and contemporary through their own creative practice.

simone berti, untitled, 2015
mixed media on canvas, 150 x 120 cm
courtesy of the artist

‘in I’ll be there forever’, the classical is not a series of canons or more or less perspective-based constructions brilliantly invented as a method of vision,’ curator cloe piccoli remarks. ‘the idea of the classic is that of a process of complex growth that puts different elements in relation to each other, forming a new dialogue that invents new forms and meanings. but it is also the idea of the classic as memory, belonging, sharing.’

diego perrone, ‘untitled’, 2015
glass casting / 70 x 85 x 16 cm
courtesy of the artist / galleria massimo de carlo milano-london. collezione acqua di parma

diego perrone, ‘untitled’, 2015

alberto garutti, ‘line 133 km long: the distance from the door of my home in milan to piazza garibaldi in parma’, 2015
polyester thread, cardboard cylinder and display case / 29 x 29 x 32 cm
courtesy the artist, collezione acqua di parma

‘lightning’ , 2015
LEDs, aluminium, computer, internet connection software, diameter 217.1 cm, height 81.3 cm.
with the support of cesi (centro elettrotecnico sperimentale italiano); lighting consultant alexander bellman gruppo c14; realized by zcube
courtesy of the artist

alberto garutti, ‘line 133 km long: the distance from the door of my home in milan to piazza garibaldi in parma’, 2015
polyester thread, cardboard cylinder and display case / 29 x 29 x 32 cm
courtesy the artist, collezione acqua di parma

massimo bartolini
giacometti landscape, 2014
bronze casting / 60 x 400 x 35 cm

rugiada, 2014
enamel on aluminium, dew.  / 120 x 80 cm
courtesy of the artist / galleria massimo de carlo milano-london / collezione acqua di parma

overview of armin linke for ‘I’ll be there forever/ the sense of classic’

paola pivi, ‘call me anything you want’, 2013
natural pearls threaded on canvas, 20 canvases / 19.2 x 18.6 cm each
courtesy of the artist / galleria massimo de carlo milano-london

rosa barba, ‘the hidden conference: about the discontinuous history of things we see and don’t see’ , 2010
and ‘the hidden conference: a fractured play’, 2012
film 35mm, colore, audio digitale ottico, 13:40 min. / 35-mm film, colour, optical sound, 13:40 mins.
courtesy of the artist / photo © a.osio

1/6