The contemporary art exhibition “Isola Prossima”, organized by Arpa Umbria in collaboration with the Art Monsters Association, returns for the fourth consecutive year.
After exploring natural elements such as water and earth in the previous editions held on Isola Polvese and Montefalco, for 2024 the focus shifts to a new protagonist: air. The exhibition, curated by the historian and art critic Massimo Mattioli, presents the works of 26 artists of different generations and of international importance, active from the mid- nineteenth century to the present.
Of particular importance is the choice of the exhibition venue: the Museo Civico di Palazzo della Penna in Perugia, which houses a significant collection of works by Gerardo Dottori, a famous exponent of Aeropittura. The title of the exhibition, “Aere”, reflects this connection with air, and the integration of Dottori’s works into the exhibition itinerary will enrich the contents of the exhibition and enhance the museum’s permanent collection.
Since the Renaissance, the element of air has played a central role in the artistic imagination due to its versatility. From Leonardo da Vinci’s famous wind studies, to Correggio’s “Jupiter and Io”, in which fog plays a seductive role, to William Turner’s stormy landscapes, air has inspired artists of every era. In the 20th century, works such as Marcel Duchamp’s “Air de Paris”, a vial containing the air of Paris, and the provocative works of Piero Manzoni and Gino De Dominicis have made air a highly topical theme. The element of air is also addressed in its contemporary implications, such as pollution and climate change.
The artists exhibited offer a broad and multifaceted vision of the theme. Among the works on display, an 1850 gouache by Giacinto Gigante depicting a study for a cloud, and the imposing installation “The Cloud – Cuore” by Argentine Leandro Erlich.
The exhibition also includes works by Indian artist Shilpa Gupta, who explores air pollution and the metaphysical value of air.
Artist Luca Vitone also addresses the ethical issue related to air with large canvases exposed to atmospheric agents – rain, dust and wind – which become the pictorial elements of these fascinating works.
The exhibition is supported by Fondazione Perugia with the patronage of the Umbria Region, the Province of Perugia, the Municipality of Perugia, the Academy of Fine Arts of Perugia and ISPRA.
ARTISTS LIST
Giacinto Gigante / Piero Manzoni / Shilpa Gupta / Gino De Dominicis / Bruno Ceccobelli / Luca Vitone / Leandro Erlich / Mariateresa Sartori / Mario Consiglio / Berndnaut Smilde / Donato Piccolo / Juan Pablo Macías / Giovanni Gaggia / Virginia Zanetti / Paolo Manazza / Massimiliano Poggioni / Edoardo Cialfi / Olga Lepri / Arturo Casanova / Pablo Candiloro / Aldo Grazzi / Giuliano Giuggioli / Corrado Bonomi / Casper Faassen / Arcangelo Sassolino / Elvio Chiricozzi
