Fendi Unveils Arnoldo Pomodoro Exhibition in Rome – WWD

Milan – Fendi shines a light on one of Italy’s most revered contemporary sculptors, internationally known for his geometric bronze works.

The luxury goods brand will open the “Arnaldo Pomodoro” exhibition on Friday. The great theater of civilizations [Arnaldo Pomodoro. The Great Theater of Civilizations].”

Running until October 1, the exhibition, curated by Lorenzo Respi and Andrea Viliani in association with Fondazione Arnoldo Pomodoro, will be staged at Fendi’s Rome headquarters, Palazzo della Civilta Italiana. This is the first step in a multi-year partnership with the Foundation.

Created for the indoor and outdoor spaces of the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, the exhibition will showcase around 30 artworks by Pomodoro created between the late 1950s and 2021, spanning the artist’s more than 70-year career. From photographs and documents to paintings and drawings, many have been shown publicly for the first time.

„We started talking at his atelier in Navigli [Milan’s interconnected canals] And we thought it would be very ambitious and beautiful to display his work at our headquarters in Rome, where many of his works of art are located,” said Serge Brunswick, president and CEO of Fendi.

Examples in Rome include the „Sphera Grande”. [Big Sphere]” placed in front of the Barnesina Foreign Ministry, the “Novecento” obelisk, and the bronze sculpture in the Vatican. Pinecone’s yard.

Brunswick said the partnership aims to celebrate art, „respecting heritage, paying attention to the widespread knowledge of artistic languages, and seeking new forms of collaboration from a perspective of sustainability and innovation.”

The executive also noted that it was a „natural evolution” of the relationship established between Fendi and the foundation in 2013.

The building displays an environmental artwork called „Entryway,” among other things, that Fendi has helped preserve and make available to the public over the past decade.

Pomodoro, now 96, revisited Fendi’s signature Peekaboo bag, first created by Silvia Venturini Fendi in 2008. It’s part of the global Canvas Peekaboo project, launched in 2014 and featuring artists and designers from Sarah Coleman to Lucas Kuschwandtner and Lucas Kuschwandtner. Kabuto.

Asked what personally drew him to Pomodoro’s art, Brunswick said, „It’s so intriguing to be able to see what’s inside, to lose yourself in those fractures. They’re so interesting and mysterious, perfect on the outside, but you can see inside — like Peekaboo,” he says with a laugh. said.

Indeed, Pomodoro revisits Peekaboo, „Taking time to work on the bag gives us respect,” he asserts.

Brunswick highlighted how the sheer scale of Fendi’s headquarters elevates Pomodoro’s „monumental” work, saying, „We are very fortunate to still be working with him, who has shaped the art world for decades. We are very proud of it.”

The administrator observed that the goal of the Palazzo della Civilta was to be „open to the city” on the first day, and that, for example, it had hosted exhibitions for years at the Giuseppe Penone or hosted the „Fendi Studios” exhibition. A tribute to the movies and the relationship with the brand.

As part of the exhibition, four sculptures will be placed on each of the outer corners of the striking modernist and rationalist building, known as the Piazza Colosseum: the „Form del Mito”. [Shapes of the myth]” dates back to 1983, including “Il potere”. [The power or Agamennon]”; „Aspiration [The ambition, or Clitennestra]”; „The car [The machine, or Egisto],” and “Prophecy [The prophecy or Cassandra],” a series inspired by artist Emilio Isgrove’s “Orestes” from Aeschylus, taken from beautiful machines created for theatrical performances.

In the entrance hall, there are two works created by the artist for two theater performances, made with sculptural materials attached to raffia and fabric.

Other examples include “Le battaglie [The battles]” from 1995, in black, and “movement in open space and depth [Movement in full air and in depth]” From 1996-1997, in white, it reflects Pomodoro’s use of rope, wedges and bolts.

The latter is composed of a double arch representing large celestial and terrestrial spaces.

„Tracks [The traces]” The 1998 series includes 21 white, black, and rust-colored chalks.

The itinerary ends with „Osso di Sepia” on the third floor arcade. [cuttlefish bone],” the symbolic matrix of all the artist’s work, he actually began his sculptural experimentation by carving into cuttlefish bone.

The exhibition is accompanied by a monographic catalog published by Scra, available in Fendi boutiques and at the exhibition space.

Fendi offers free entry to visitors.