Spazio. From MAXXI’s Collections of Art and Architecture
30 May – 23 January 2011
Gino De Dominicis: l’Immortale
30 May – 7 November 2010
Luigi Moretti Architetto.
From Rationalism to Informalism
30 May – 7 November 2010
Kutlug Ataman.
Mesopotamian Dramaturgies
30 May – 12 September 2010
Guido Reni, 4 a – 00196 Rome, Italy
27, 28 and 29 May 2010: three days of events to celebrate the opening of MAXXI – the National Museum of XXI Century Arts designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The museum will open to the public on Sunday 30 May, crowning the long-standing commitment by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage & Activities and the Ministry of Infrastructure.MAXXI is the first Italian national museum in Italy devoted to contemporary creativity. The museum is managed by the MAXXI Foundation, Pio Baldi President, and directed by Margherita Guccione (MAXXI Architettura) and Anna Mattirolo (MAXXI Arte).
The inaugural exhibitions are four: GINO DE DOMINICIS: l’Immortale, curated by Achille Bonito Oliva (30 May – 7 November 2010); LUIGI MORETTI ARCHITETTO. From Rationalism to Informalism, curated by Bruno Reichlin and Maristella Casciato (30 May – 7 November 2010); KUTLUG ATAMAN. Mesopotamian Dramaturgies, curated by Cristiana Perrella (30 May – 12 September 2010).
However, it is the exhibition SPAZIO that portrays the spirit of the museum – and will be the first thematic presentation of MAXXI’s Art and Architecture collections. It has been curated by an interdisciplinary group composed of Pippo Ciorra, Alessandro D’Onofrio, Bartolomeo Pietromarchi and Gabi Scardi with a an accompanying catalogue edited by Stefano Chiodi and Domitilla Dardi (30 May 2010 – 23 January 2011).
The initial stimulus for SPAZIO came from the dense texture of superimposed spaces of Hadid’s architecture. This presentation, which fully interprets MAXXI’s interdisciplinary nature, will include more than 80 works from the Art collection (including works by Alighiero Boetti, Anish Kapoor, William Kentridge, Sol Lewitt, Giuseppe Penone, Grazia Toderi and Francesco Vezzoli) exhibited along an itinerary winding inside and outside the museum, in dialogue with site specific installations by 10 international architecture studios (including Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Lacaton & Vassal Architects and West 8). As part of the exhibition, an installation by Studio Azzurro, Italian Geographies, will occupy a 40-metre wall. An ad hoc section will be devoted to the NETinSPACE a project curated by Elena Giulia Rossi. SPACE will also include a tribute to Fabio Mauri and the two works created by Maurizio Mochetti and Massimo Grimaldi for MAXXI’s 2per100 competition.
GINO DE DOMINICIS: l’Immortale. On the occasion of its opening, MAXXI has organized the first and most comprehensive retrospective dedicated to the artist. De Dominicis is a key figure in Italian contemporary art, who is extremely influential to a younger generations of Italians, while yet to be fully revealed to an international audience. Through the display of over 130 works, the exhibition explores the entire course of a wholly original strand of research that transcends any particular trend or movement.
LUIGI MORETTI ARCHITETTO. From Rationalism to Informalism. Moretti was one of the protagonists of 20th century architectural culture that represents one of the key points of MAXXI Architecture’s mission. The exhibition features drawings, models and photographs of his works while also focusing on his relationship with art and his work as a director for the periodical Spazio. The exhibition has been organized jointly with the Architectural Academy and the Archive of the Modern of the Università della Svizzera Italiana and with the Central State Archive.
KUTLUG ATAMAN. Mesopotamian Dramaturgies. Born in Istanbul, Ataman is amongst the most compelling contemporary artists working today. Mesopotamian Dramaturgies consists of eight video works reflecting on the problematic relationship between East and West, modernization and tradition, globalization and the persistence of local cultures. This presentation underlines MAXXI attention to new media and its international mission.
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday 11.00-19.00; Thursday 11.00-22.00; closed Mondays
Closed: 1 May, 25 December
