"Italy is More Surrealist than the Pope"

On the occasion of the centenary of the Manifesto of Surrealism, written by André Breton in the fall of 1924, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection presents Italy is More Surrealist than the Pope, a two-day conference taking place on October 17–18 at the Auditorium Santa Margherita of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

Organized by Gražina Subelytė, Associate Curator, Peggy Guggenheim Collection; Giulia Ingarao, lecturer in Modern and Contemporary Art History at the Accademia di Belle Arti of Palermo, and Hubertus Gassner, art historian and former director of the Hamburger Kunsthalle, the conference explores the significance of Italy for international Surrealism from the 1920s through to the post-World War II period. During the two days, internationally renowned scholars will present new and original perspectives for understanding the Surrealist movement and its relationship with Italy, providing a unique opportunity to explore lesser known but nonetheless crucial topics. The conference Italy is More Surrealist than the Pope is made possible by the KHR Family Fund and is organized in collaboration with Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

Although we cannot speak of an Italian Surrealist school, some Italian artists, such as Paolo Uccello, Piero di Cosimo, and Giorgio de Chirico, were of great inspiration to the movement’s poetics at large, while others, such as Enrico Baj, produced artworks that coincided with Surrealist themes. Besides, artists such as Leonora Carrington, Salvador Dalí, Leonor Fini, Edward James, Manina, Matta, Kay Sage, and Pavel Tchelitchew, were affected by Italian art and culture in diverse ways. Some of them were inspired by Italian art, while others lived in Italy for varied periods of time and were influenced by experiences here. The conference will explore their lives and work by analyzing individual case studies from both pre- and postwar periods, overturning the marginal role attributed to Italy in the development of Surrealism.

Among other themes, the conference will also examine Surrealist environments and architecture in Italy, as well as the wider international context of museums, galleries, and private collectors. Last but not least, it will shed light on how Surrealism was at the center of discussions in the intellectual circles in Italy through journals and exhibitions. Italy is More Surrealist than the Pope will provide an unparalleled opportunity to reevaluate Surrealism and its relation to Italy through an analytical study of Italy’s cultural framework, and to present innovative arguments aimed at mapping and unearthing the lesser known, but critical themes and perspectives.

The conference is open to the public. Participation is free. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis. It will also be streamed live. Find out more at this link.