Upon entering the Depardieu Gallery, one discovers three large numbered files: 0, 1, 2. One might be tempted to open them. But first, it is noted, “do not touch,” and it would indeed be quite unnecessary, as the documents contained within are all displayed on the walls of the Depardieu Gallery. 0 Vienna, 1 Nice, 2 Turin and Milan. The exhibition reveals installation projects for these four European cities.
The two Italian capitals, that of Piedmont and that of Lombardy, echo the 2015 World Expo whose theme was “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.” Arte per Tutti, art for all, is an exhibition of a new kind, if not entirely unprecedented.
Contemporary art challenges the public with this question: What can be offered for the future besides what already exists? Corrado Bonomi, an Italian artist, offers his answer with his Castelli in aria, castles in the sky as one might say in French. He invites us to choose dreams and, instead of using fabric like Christo, he wraps the monuments of Milan and Turin in clouds. Castles in the sky? Yes, let us not forget that it is visionaries, dreamers, and utopias that have enabled progress. These projects and plans are still in the planning stages.
These three voluminous files contain the ideas of a dozen Italian designers and creators. Vienna in 2010, numbered “0” because it was uncertain if there would be a continuation, followed two years later by number “1” with Nice, a city whose magnetism always exerts its charm on the Italian soul.
In 2015, the year of the World Expo, Turin and Milan were in the spotlight. The Depardieu Gallery also introduces us to an artist: Isabelle Poilprez and her unusual objects, small glass pebbles in bright and vivid colors.
It is patient work; she gives the material magnificent shapes and lines. With glass, one thinks of Murano and glassblowers. Isabelle echoes the Castelli in aria and during this Christmas season, she offers the public dreams and beauty.
The Depardieu Gallery takes us, in a way, to the land of Oz, not very far from the Little Prince asking, “Draw me a cloud!” This exhibition is open until December 31st, a wonderful gift from the Depardieu Gallery not to be missed and perhaps a place to find ideas for your New Year’s gifts.
Thierry Jan
