STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.-Moderna Museet was created, and forged an identity, with one foot in New York and the other in Paris. And for many years, it seemed as though art from around 1960 appeared to be entirely shaped by those two cities. In hindsight, however, it is obvious that other “creative pockets” arose in entirely different places, with just as radical artistic projects. In connection with Moderna Museet’s 50th Anniversary in 2008, three exhibitions will focus on three such places around the world: Rio de Janeiro, Milan/Turin and Los Angeles. The idea is to explore the period when Moderna Museet was created from an international perspective, by featuring a representative selection of works of art, architecture, design, literature, film and music never before shown together in Sweden.
Three separate catalogues will be produced for the Time & Place exhibitions by Steidl publishers.
The exhibition about Milan and Turin explores an exceedingly dynamic period in Italian 20th century art. In the 1960s, a new concept for art was established here, entailing a shift from the emotionally charged abstract expressionism to a more idea-based visual expression in muted colours. This exhibition seeks to present some of the key artists on the scene of these two emblematic cities in Northern Italy in 1958-1968.
For instance, it explores the relationship between the older generation’s artistic ambitions and those of the younger artist group often referred to with the collective name of Arte Povera.
The first part of the exhibition features works by Gianni Colombo, Lucio Fontana, Dadamaino, Bruno Munari, Piero Manzoni, Giulio Paolini and others, focusing on the development of themes such as monochrome painting, the fascination for spatial representation and experiments in the field between visual art and design, and not forgetting the strong drive to develop conceptual art as a genre.
The second part of the exhibition has a more documentary tone, giving visitors an experience of specific settings and the spirit of the time, using photos, objects and other documentation. It also highlights a number of seminal exhibitions and events that took place during the period.
The third part of the exhibition presents several of the artists who are strongly associated with the Arte Povera movement, with its entirely unique way of relating to the process, the idea and unconventional materials. Visitors will have the opportunity to see works by Michelangelo Pistoletto, Alighiero Boetti, Mario Merz, Giuseppe Pennone, Giulio Paolini and others.
In connection with the exhibition, Moderna Museet will also host a programme of films by Pier Paolo Pasolini, Michelangelo Antonioni, Federico Fellini and other Italian film-makers.
Curator: Luca Massimo Barbero, associate curator, the Guggenheim Museum, Venice. Project manager: Cecilia Widenheim, curator Moderna Museet. Time & Place: Milano-Torino 1958-1968 is sponsored by Scania.
