BOLOGNA.- Bologna Art First reaches its fifth edition: for the first time, this exclusive itinerary in the city becomes a project curated by Julia Draganovic. From 29 January to the end of February 2010, the project, a collaboration between the City of Bologna and Arte Fiera Art First, will present a series of site specific installations by artists who work with participating galleries. Some of these works will be specially created in situ, respecting the structure of the historical buildings that host them.

This single, large collective exhibition will create a dialogue between contemporary art and unusual locations in the city's historical centre and its surroundings, and Bologna will once again demonstrate its eclecticism by alternating from ancient to modern, becoming a stage where the public can see and experience contemporary art in environments radically different from the usual white cubes.

The title "Here and Now" makes ironic reference to a popular Buddhist concept, which seems to present a truism only at first sight: facing the present is, indeed, a daily challenge.

The site specific installations and works chosen to be exhibited in some of Bologna's most important locations aim to attract attention to locations we consider historical but nevertheless are part of modern life and never lose their relevance.

The locations hosting installations and artists for the 2010 edition are: Palazzo Re Enzo - Stefano Cagol, Fabrizio Passarella; Palazzo del Podestà / Emporio della Cultura - Sophie Whettnall; Courtyard of Palazzo d'Accursio - Giuseppe Maraniello, Vedovamazzei; Sala Borsa - David Lindberg; Museo della Sanità e dell'Assistenza/Oratorio della Vita - Luca Pozzi; Archiginnasio - Francesco Simeti; Museo Archeologico - Barry x Ball, Michael Bevilacqua, Lizbeth Marano, Rita McBride, Damir Ocko, TooMattos (Roxy in the Box and Carlo Rossi); Galleria Cavour - Angela Glajcar; Piazza de' Calderini - Kaarina Kaikkonen; Musei Universitari di Palazzo Poggi - Nicola Bolla, Luca Francesconi; Courtyard between Accademia di Belle Arti and Pinacoteca Nazionale - Daniel Knorr; Museo Civico Medievale - Nicola Evangelisti; Marconi Business Lounge - Andrea Mastrovito.

For the first time, Bologna Art First presents "site specific" works created for some of the city's historical buildings: artists Michael Bevilacqua, Angela Glajcar, Kaarina Kaikkonen, Daniel Knorr, David Lindberg, Francesco Simeti, and Giuseppe Stampone will come to Bologna a week before Arte Fiera opens and will create their installations specifically for their intended spaces.

In addition, Nicola Bolla, Nicola Evangelisti, Andrea Mastrovito, Fabrizio Passarella, Luca Pozzi and TooMattos (Roxy in the Box and Carlo Rossi) will present new works.

Bologna Art First becomes interactive and digital thanks to a map offered on GoogleMaps, indicating all of the exhibition sites as points of interest, with information on artists and works. And starting 15 January 2010, visitors can write comments on the works and artists thanks to a geo-blog.