Minerbi, Harare, Arrivabene: Ferrara reinterprets modernity in three exhibitions

Three galleries to understand any aspect of modernity (or it was). Ferrara with (two) exhibitions in the Palazzo dei Diamanti (Guido Harari. dating. 50 years of photos and stories; Agostino Arrivabene. Thesaurusuntil October 1) and with the first retrospective dedicated to Gabriele d’Annunzio’s favorite sculptor (Arrigo Minerbi: the true idealist between freedom and classicism, until December 26 at Estense Castle) changing the perspective of the three artists. Because in appearance Minerby (1881-1960) with his monumental sculptures (flower cry1922) who cite the symbolism, magical realism, and classicism of many Chini, Previati, Casorati, Sironi, Oppi, and Funi seem desperate to look at archaic (or at least codified) models. while Harare photos (1952) seems to want to say (Patti Smith, Villa Arconati1996) Eclectic Modernism The Wonder Room invented by Arrivabene (1967) Contemporary in progress (Fusion Angel III2016).

The three galleriesOrganized by the Ferrara Arte Foundation and the Art Museums Service of the Municipality of Ferrara, animation by Vittorio Sgarbi) Instead, re-read the works (sculptures, gypsum, paintings, photographs, documentaries, sculptures, colored stones) according to a new or at least a different point of view. After the success (70,229 visitors in 122 days) of the Renaissance exhibition by Ercole de Roberti and Lorenzo Costa that officially reopened the Palazzo dei Diamanti after a complex restoration and redevelopment project, in the same rooms, Harari’s anthology (more than 300 works on display) pushes the boundaries of enchanting representations of modernism’s own myths to become a kind of flavor expressed. Subjects (Fabrizio D’Andre, Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, Vasco Rossi, Kate Bush, Lucio Dalla). And back to the 19th century, the department seems to go back to the idea of ​​being able to depict common subjects as well Ferrara eyesDuring the course of the exhibition, Harari will display the photos by booking that he will make on the group Set up in the Magic Cave (a real-time print of themes will be provided, and others will be displayed in the gallery to represent cityscapes).

The contemporary modernity of Arrivabene is also different, the modernity of those who – explains Vittorio Sgarbi – have always followed the path of the rearguard with conviction and courage. As indicated immediately by the choice of title that mentions i Encyclopedic dictionary of vocabularyIt is the small buildings that were shown to the gods in the sanctuaries, which the author justifies He regards his creations as votive gifts and artistic practice as tension towards the deity. If Arrivabene’s portrayal brings him closer to (or almost) peers such as Enzo Cucchi or Stefano Di Stasio, his modernity is again different because he compares himself to the great masters (Jan van Eyck, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Albrecht Drer, Rembrandt).

But above all the discovery of Arrigo Minerbi’s potential modernity is more surprising. Curator: Chiara Forassi (The exhibition was born again from an idea for my youngest) About eighty sculptures (including colossal ones) were brought to Estense Castle, plasterwork, paintings, and drawings that certainly inform the perfect classicism and anti-modernism of his more mature production. Works like Spring morning (1919) instead attests to how Minerbi was in any case connected with the artistic debate that would accompany the transition from modernity to tradition. In short, how close is Minerby’s past to modernity.

Exhibitions: dates and venues

Exhibitions Guido Harari. dating. 50 years of photography
and stories (From Guido Harari’s own project) e Agostino Arrivabene. Thesaurus (curated by Vittorio Sgarbi) is open until October 1 at the Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara. exhibition Arrigo Minerbi: the true idealist between freedom and classicism (curated by Chiara Forassi from an idea by Vittorio Sgarbi) Open until December 26th, still in Ferrara but in Castel Estense. The three exhibitions have been organized by the Ferrara Arte Foundation and the Art Museums Service of the Municipality of Ferrara (Info: palazzodiamanti.it; castelloestense.it)