Ravenna's city art museum, MAR,
delves into the 20th century's artistic dialogue with the past
in its new exhibition titled "The Seduction of the Ancient",
through June 26.
The show's subtitle, "From Picasso to Duchamp, from de
Chirico to Pistoletto", reveals some of the most storied artists
of the exhibition, which features more than 130 works spanning
the century.
The exhibition was curated by MAR Director Claudio Spadoni,
who chose works that illustrate art's ongoing conversation with
tradition throughout the 20th century.
The show unfolds in chronological order, divided into
thematic sections that start with masterpieces such as
"Metaphysical Composition" by Giorgio de Chirico, "The Prodigal
Son" by Arturo Martini, "The Old and the New World" by de
Chirico's younger brother Alberto Savinio, "The Bathers" by
Carlo Carrà, and "Maternity" by Gino Severini.
The works then proceed into 20th-century still life
painting, with works by Giorgio Morandi, Andrè Derain, Leoncillo
Leonardi and Gregorio Sciltian, all of whom were masters of the
genre in capturing inanimate objects.
These works are displayed alongside landscape painters such
Maurice Utrillo and Domenico Gnoli, who managed to transmit a
more intimate vision of nature, one that also incorporated
social awareness.
In the exhibition's "The Myth and the Sacred" section,
there are works by Mario Sironi, Adolfo de Carolis, Achille
Funi, Salvador Dalì ("The Crucifixion"), Cagnaccio di San
Pietro, Emilio Vedova, and Sandro Chia, along with other works
by brothers de Chirico and Savinio.
In the "Archeologies" section, curator Spadoni chose to
display reflections on the antique by contemporary artists such
as Igor Mitoraj, Christo, Jodice, and Salvo.
In "Citations", the show brings forth Duchamp with his
mustached portrayal of Mona Lisa, along with other works by Man
Ray, Baj, and contemporary American video artist Bill Viola.
The exhibition closes with a look at the modern and antique
through the lens of neo-avantgarde and post-modern
interpretations, with examples like Andy Warhol's "Birth of
Venus" and Michelangelo Pistoletto's installation "Venus of the
Rags".
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