TALES IN MILAN
TALES IN MILAN
#13 Milan's State University becomes an open-air museum
There are places where the spirit finds its home, triggering inside each of us genuine affection and pure nostalgia. The State University of Milan in Via Festa del Perdono is one of them, combining the cloisters and courtyards’architectural beauty to a honorable assignment, as it welcomes the Milanese and foreign students of the humanities on a daily basis. What a wonderful harmony is the union of history, youth and knowledge in your own city! In this period contemporary art is also added to this happy marriage, as the second edition of "La Statale Arte" begins. In fact, Ca 'Granda’s “Cortile d'Onore” (“courtyard of honour”) hosts artist and designer Nanda Vigo’s “Exoteric Gate” until March 11th , 2017. The installation is composed by eight pyramids of different heights and a central cylinder, which involves the viewer in a multisensory experience, as the movement of light suggests a new space-time dimension. The project summarises the author’s research on chronotypes, which she started in the 60s.
On Thursdays and Fridays from 5.30 pm to 7.00pm it will also be possible to participate in guided tours led by students of Cultural Heritage and Art History.
Thanks Milan, for this new Rebirth chance!
"Exoteric Gate"
unti March 11th, 2017 - Università Statale di Milano (Milan State University), via Festa del Perdono 7
TALES IN MILAN
#12 Tales in Milano – “Give me Yesterday”
Set in Fondazione Prada’s brand new exhibition space (the Osservatorio, whose location in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is worth a visit), the show “Give Me Yesterday” curated by Francesco Zanot opened in late December, including over 50 works by young artists (M.Bonajo, T. Duarte, I. Fenara, G. Reynolds and many others) who explore the use of photography as a personal diary. In a context characterized by the pervasive presence of photography devices and images produced and shared through digital platforms, these artists are able to create a new photographic diary, as an imitation of the Internet’s repetitive cataloguing of images, through an appropriate care in the setting, in contrast with the spontaneity of the documentary style. The basis of the exhibition is a project to impose well-thoughtout structural and conceptual framework over everyday spontaneity, also by the application of a modular method and/or a combination of reality and digital manipulation. Articulated over both levels of the Osservatorio, the exhibition accompanies the visitor in his journey through the future developments not only of photography, but also the gaze on the world and the individual. A wonderful example of Milan’s openness to new: happy Rebirth.
“Give me Yesterday”, 21 Dec 2016 – 12 Mar 2017
FONDAZIONE PRADA - Milan Osservatorio
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Milan
fondazioneprada.org
TALES IN MILAN
#11 MILAN, a story of Rebirth
Palazzo Morando hosts a special rebirth story, an exhibition that starts showing the deep wounds inflicted on our city at the end of World War II, and ends with its reconstruction in 1953. Vintage photographies, war relics, videos and other sources document ten crucial years for Milan, witnessing industrious, dynamic and proud nature of the Milan and its citizens.
The bombings in 1943 have distorted Milan, by striking the places which more symbolised its cultural, artistic, religious life: the cathedral, the Royal Palace, the “Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci are just some examples of the war’s destruction, which changed the urban profile forever. The exhibition displays the situation in different parts of town focusing also on the daily life of displaced persons and the intense social relationships that intertwined in that period, from the solidarity of the collective canteens to the spontaneous economy of the black market. From these painful events, however, the rebirth of the city takes shape, in an exciting and vital reconstruction period. Among the finest examples, the reopening of La Scala with a triumphant concert directed by Arturo Toscanini in 1946.
"Milan’s Rebirth from 1943 to 1953"
Palazzo Morando - Costume Moda Immagine, until 12 February 2017.
TALES IN MILAN
#10 The Art of the Brick at La Fabbrica del Vapore
Nathan Sawaya is a young American lawyer who gave up his job to devote himself entirely to his art: imagination, colour and creativity expressed through Lego bricks, the same all of us used to play with.
At the Fabbrica del Vapore in Milano (a 1600 sqm space) he offers us a path twisting among more than 100 “sculptures”, entirely made of over a million bricks, depicting dinosaurs, superheroes, but also reconstructions of famous works of art - from Leonardo's Mona Lisa to the Venus of Milo - and various human archetypes.
Not only the works make smile and entertain, but they involve the viewer making him think about the human nature, the surface but also the depth of human beings, the chance that every one of us has to interpret the reality in an original and unique way. For this reason the exhibition is suitable for children of all ages, from 4 years old on. That’s why millions of people have been passionate about Lego bricks for decades: they For this passionate Lego bricks millions of people for decades, bricks permit people to experience dreams, their fears and desires, making them real. No coincidence that "The Art of The Brick” has entertained millions of visitors before arriving in Italy, from the United States to Australia, from Taiwan to China, as well as in major European cities like London, Paris and Brussels.
A joyful plastic Rebirth in Milan!
The Art of the Brick at La Fabbrica del Vapore, via Procaccini 4, Milan.
The exhibition is open daily:
Monday to Wednesday from 10am to 8pm
Thursday from 10am to 11pm
Friday from from 10am to 8pm
Saturday from 10am to 11pm
Sunday from 10am to 9pm
last admission allowed until one hour before closing time of the exhibition.
TALES IN MILAN
#9 Peter Paul Rubens and the Birth of Baroque
The painter Pieter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) can be consideredthe artist who gave the greatest contribution to the definition of a Baroquepainting. His bombastic style, which focuses on the complexity of patterns andlines and vivid colors, along with his virtuous technique have produced unique andprecious works. His painting career has developed mainly in Antwerp, but manywere his stays abroad. Among them, his visit in Italy between 1600 and 1608 provedto be particularly important, as itallowed him to learn more about the authors of the ‘500 such as Titian,Veronese and Tintoretto,.
The exhibition at Palazzo Reale points the influenceof the Flemish master on younger Italian painters, protagonists of the Baroque,as Pietro da Cortona, Bernini, Lanfranco and Luca Giordano, starting from theinfluence that ancient and sixteenth-century art had on Rubens. This web ofrelationships is exemplified by the works (nearly one hundred) of differentauthors, coming from the most prestigious Italian and international collections,witnesses of the beauty of the contamination and the value of the plurality of artisticexpression. Once again: Thanks Milan!
Peter Paul Rubens and the Birth of Baroque
Milano, Palazzo Reale
26.10.2016- 26.02.2017
TALES IN MILAN
CASA UCELLI DI NEMI
Milan is beautiful also because of its understatement: it is made of secret gardens and courtyards and so the city becomes magic.
Wander the narrow streets of the historic Milan and among the wonderful jewels which can be found in Milan, you will bump into an unexpected place: Casa Ucelli di Nemi, at number 5 in via cappuccio.
The fifteenth-century cloister with double loggia, amazingly simple, is the last track of the Santa Maria Maddalena al Cerchio, a Monastery of the "Umiliate" order. Carla and Guido Ucelli, founders of the Museum of Science, bought it in 1914, saving it from destruction and restored it with care and attention.
The charm of this special place continues going on the back of the building where you will discover gardens with old trees, remnants of the great monastic gardens that occupied the area until 1700. A delicate and poetic gift for the Self.
Casa Ucelli di Nemi
Via cappuccio 5
Milano
TALES IN MILAN
#8 |...a trip in Venice: Palazzo Pisani Moretta
This historic Venetian palace, a jewel on the Grand Canal, hosted the special party honoring the film "The Light Between Oceans", whose athmosphere was even more magical thanks to the essences and the lights of YouFirst Pura Rinascita's candles. Built in the second half of the fifteenth century by Bembo, the building became home to a branch of the noble family Pisani, the Pisani Moretta: several expansions and restorations finished in the mid XVIIIth Century when the last important works which gave it its present day appearance were completed. The facade of the building is an example of floral Venetian Gothic style, while the interior is in baroque and neoclassical style and dates back to the XVIII century. Some wonderful works of the most important Venetian artists decorate the halls of the building: Jacopo Guarana's "Light that defeats the darkness" and "Apollo in the morning hours"and Giambattista Tiepolo's "The encounter between Venus and Mars"(1743) . Other works once housed in the palace are today transferred elsewhere, like "The Family of Darius at the feet of Alexander" by Paolo Veronese, and "Dario's death" by Giambattista Piazzetta, now at the National Gallery in London and the Museum of Ca 'Rezzonico in Venice . It has been a real privilege to enjoy this beauty, as the film transports us to another era, filling us with delight and wonder.
Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Sestiere San Polo 2766, Venezia
TALES IN MILAN
#7 | Leonardo’s works at the Castello Sforzesco
How full of surprises is Milan. Few people know what’s going on in the precious Sala delle Asse at Castello Sforzesco, which was painted by Leonardo da Vinci at the end of ‘400 and was closed for renovation for about a year. It hovers a certain mystery around the new and still unofficial discoveries made by specialists. What transpires, yet, is marvelous and testifies once again the intimate connection between the city of Milan and the greatest genius of the Renaissance (and perhaps of all time): the decoration of the room seems to be a real botany treaty translated into painting, and it has a great environmental value. If so (there are no denials today) we would witness the umpteenth masterpiece by Leonardo, a real landscape of plants and flowers very similar to what the author may have seen from the windows of the castle. No one so far had highlighted the scientific value of this work, considering it as pure decoration. Even though this hypothesis must be confirmed, we like to think of Leonardo collecting plants and flowers in our beautiful city, pleased and touched by so much love and beauty.
TALES IN MILAN
#6 | Japan in Milan
Being the most important event celebrating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between Japan and Italy, Hokusai, Hiroshige, Utamaro. Japan places and faces who won the West is an exhibition that explores the history of Eastern Art through the masterpieces of the three famous ukiyo-e artists.A selection of display 200 policrome xylographies and illustrated books accompanyus in the universe of a distant culture that talks about nature, landscapes and beauty in a unique way, so different from the Western one . This inspirational art has deeply influenced the late Nineteenth-Century European movements and this contamination can be noticed in Symbolism and in Klimt’s work , up to Matisse and Picasso’s.
Once again Milan gives us the opportunity to know and dream!
“Hokusai, Hiroshige, Utamaro. Japan places and faces who won the West”Milano, Palazzo Reale, September 2016 - January 2017
OPENING HOURS:
Monday: 14.30–19.30; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday: 9.30-19.30; Thursday and Saturday: 9.30-22.30