Arte Fiera Bologna is celebrating its 50 years anniversary with a lot of interesting initiatives and astonishing Modern and Contemporary artworks on display.
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During the first days of February, Bologna is hosting the renomated Arte Fiera, the most longevital and antique Modern & Contemporary art fair in Italy. This year the fair celebrated its 50 years edition, with most of the biggest collectionists taking part in it. With more than 50 thousand hosts, 196 galleries and 11 prizes and acquisitions, the four days of the fairs are hectic and exciting. The main section of the fair presents a path called “Percorso”. Percorso is an itinerary that connects some of the stands from the main sections under a thematic criteria, which this year was “Drawings”. Additionally, there are three other curated sections: Images and Photography, Paintings XXI and Multiples, which proposes pieces in editions, from artist’s books to authors’ designs. Paintings XXI, curated by Davide Ferri, art curator and critique, presents works selected from emerging artists and mid-career. Before entering the fair, the words of Alberto Garutti are welcoming the hosts: “All the steps I made in my life brought me here, now”. Berruti is an Italian artist, who focused on public art. He died last year in 2023. This year, as the fair is celebrating its 50 years, it focuses on its first edition in 1974.
A selection has been made of artwork pieces not to be missed. The most important artworks you can find are the modern ones. One from Domenico Gnoli, “Le canapé bleu”, which counted as the top price of the fair (1.300.300 euros). The Tornabuoni booth presented a huge piece from Dorazio from the 70ies; from 560 thousands euros. Of course, not to be missed, the blu chips Italian artists as De Chirico, Savinio, Schifano and Isgrò. There was a marketing trend that could be found once wandering around the fair, a strong presence of Di Salvo paintings and Carla Accardi. Glauco Cavaciuti, presented the works of the renowned Italian artist Alighiero Boetti. The contemporary section also has astonishing pieces which do not have to be missed. Galleria Continua presents the works of Arcangelo Sassolino, an artist focused on mechanics and technologies. The renomated galleria Lia Rumma, which came back after 10 years of absence from the fair, has shown the works from the international artist Thomas Ruff. Lia Rumma has also won the price ANGAMC. Mutina presented a collaboration with Maurizio Cattelan, “Because”. The project has been idealized by Sarah Cosulich, the curator of Mutina for Art, focusing on creating a sense of uncertainty within the public.
Even though the fair did not present huge sails, all the galleries were very happy to be there and all had positive feedback about it. The fair in Bologna is known for its vibes, good talks and meetings from a varied and interesting crowd. The work from the artist Alberto Tadiello, with his work “Ossicodone 2, 2020”, brought by the Naples’ Galleria Umberto di Marino, has been acquired from the new Price Officina Arte Ducati. Two artworks, “Photomatic d’Italia, 1973-74” by Franco Maccari, represented from the Mazzola Gallery and “Untitled 15, 2023” by Chiara Camoni, represented by SpazioA, are going to become part of the permanent collection of the MAMbo, the Contemporary Art museum of Bologna thanks to the support of TRUST for contemporary art.
The days of Arte Fiera coincide from more than 12 years with Arte City Bologna, the program promoted by Comune di Bologna and Bologna Fiere, that encompasses a lot of unmissable appointments. This year it pays homage to the artist Giorgio Morandi to remember his 60 years death anniversary. Five special projects are going to reinterpret and explore the works of the artist through different contemporary languages. Mary Ellen Bartley is exhibiting her personal photographic works she did using the personal books of Morandi. Joel Mayerowitz is presenting his pictures of Morandi’s objects at the Collezioni Comunali d’Arte a Palazzo d’Accursio. Tacita Dean for video, Virgilio Fiene is exploring the relationship Morandi had with his objects, analyzing his artistic projects as a performative process. Mark Vernon presents “Saturnine Orbit”, a sonoric installation, at the Casa Museo Giorgio Morandi and in the spaces of Fienili del Campiaro.
The days of Arte Fiera have been enriching, thanks to the noteworthy audience of collectors and art insiders. There was an interesting variety of artworks, from the important modern Italian names to the emerging Italian and international artists. 2024 marks one of the greatest editions of the contemporary Italian Art Fair Arte Fiera Bologna, making it a special 50th anniversary
Cover image: Courtesy of Musei Bologna.
Written by Asia Artom
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