MILAN.- Milan's Galleria d'Arte Moderna (GAM) is set to host the first major museum exhibition in the city dedicated to the work of internationally acclaimed Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. Titled "ugo rondinone. terrone," the exhibition, curated by Caroline Corbetta, opens to the public tomorrow, Wednesday, April 2nd, and will run until July 6th, 2025.
Delve into the mind of a contemporary master. Find a fascinating book on Ugo Rondinone's diverse works.
The show is a significant event for Milan's art scene, offering a unique opportunity to engage with Rondinone's thought-provoking creations. While Rondinone was born in Switzerland and has been based in New York for many years, this exhibition delves into his Italian heritage, specifically his family's origins in Matera.
A central theme of the exhibition is Rondinone's dialogue with Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo's iconic painting "Il Quarto Stato" (The Fourth Estate), a powerful symbol of social struggle housed at the GAM since 2022. Rondinone's work draws parallels between the experiences depicted in Pellizza da Volpedo's masterpiece and the stories of his own parents and other Italian migrants who left their homeland in search of new opportunities.
Visitors entering the GAM will be greeted by four monumental olive tree sculptures in the courtyard. These are aluminum casts of ancient trees from an olive grove Rondinone acquired near Matera. This installation not only emphasizes the artist's connection to his roots but also serves as a poignant tribute to the trees lost in a severe storm that struck Milan in the summer of 2023.
Inside the museum, in the Ballroom, Rondinone will present a new iteration of his series "The Alphabet of My Mothers and Fathers." This large-scale panel, placed directly opposite "Il Quarto Stato," features early 20th-century work tools that Rondinone found in Long Island and then covered in gold. The artist explains that he was struck by finding the same handmade tools used by his grandparents in Matera in an area of Long Island where many Italian immigrants worked as farmers in the 1920s. By gilding these tools, he aims to honor the love and hard labor of his ancestors.
Further into the museum, in a dimly lit atmosphere leading to the Sala del Parnaso, visitors will encounter life-size sculptures of nude young men and women in seated poses. These figures are crafted from wax mixed with earth collected by Rondinone from all seven continents. The earthy tones of the sculptures create a subtle connection with the surrounding park and also establish a dialogue with the wax sculptures of Medardo Rosso, another highlight of the GAM's collection.
Rondinone himself addresses the exhibition's title, "terrone," a word historically used as a derogatory term for people from Southern Italy. He states his intention to reclaim the word, transforming it from an insult into a celebration of those who work and love the land.
Through this interplay of personal memories and universal themes, past and present, Ugo Rondinone's exhibition at the GAM promises to create a deeply human atmosphere, oscillating between moments of reflection and a sense of resilience and hope. The exhibition is a collaboration between the City of Milan | Culture, the GAM - Galleria d'Arte Moderna, CMS Cultura, and Banca Ifis as the main sponsor.
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