AND WHAT, FOR EXAMPLE, AM I NOW SEEING?

From an extraordinary private collection, enriched, in the course of the last 30 years (1987-2017), by more than 300 contemporary art pieces, 48 are here presented to the public for the exhibition entitled And What, for Example, Am I Now Seeing? (Autodisporsi).

“Autodisporsi”, which literally means “self-dispose”, is the subtitle of this exhibition and a famous work by Alighiero Boetti. As the subtitle suggests, the selection has been made by the artworks themselves, as these pieces have proven their capacity to “autodisporsi”, self-dispose and find a rational placement in the structure of the exhibition thus making it possible.

Due to their strong impact, these art pieces are able to attract the viewer’s attention and connect with her/him creating a personal relationship. This approach offers the possibility to discover a different way to enjoy contemporary art leaving aside the daily rush of life. The visitor should allow himself to travel through this visual experience without any pre-conceived ideas and compare his own impression only at the end.

The exhibition follows a very classic criteria, it is divided into 5 main sections: Drawings, Paintings, Photography, Sculpture and Other Media.

The title And What, for Example, Am I Now Seeing? originates from the art piece, on display, by the conceptual artist Joseph Kosuth, and is based on the definitions from the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein. Here it becomes an invitation for the viewer to observe the artworks and to freely investigate their meanings in the effort to create a dialogue between the works and the public.

The exhibition is structured in three main areas: silent visit, visit with sound and educational workshop. Drawing, Painting and Photography sections are all included in the silent visit – silence in this case is a sort of homage to Marina Abramovic and her artistic practice. We asked the viewer to turn off all devices, not to take pictures or video and to wear an anti-noise protection in order not to be disturbed.

Sculpture and Other Media sections are included in the visit with sound. At the end of the exhibition, in the educational workshop, all works previously seen were explained in detail according to the collector’s point of view.

In this Digital Era, where information is perused by one third of the world population at the speed of Internet, a short-circuit might probably occur between these artworks, produced by artist of the “pre-internet” generation, and the models known to the Z generation. The intention of the curators was to verify how a contemporary artwork remains actual, that is to say capable of maintaining its seductive power, and therefore conquer the digital generations of the new millennium.

The exhibition has been essentially structured with a didactical intent. At the entrance of the exhibition a copybook was handed over to the viewer in order for him to take notes of his/her experience. These notes were discussed and collected in the final section in order to testify the visitor’s point of view and the dialogue, if any, between the public and the art pieces.

At the end of the exhibition, after reading the collected copybooks, originated the idea to public a catalogue with CURA. and share with a wider public some of the most significant ideas, notes, drawings and emotions written by visitors and students of all ages, from kindergarten to high school.

Curatorial assistant Ginevra D’oria
Educational Project Chiara Marchelli
Exhibition Designer Francesca Maltese
Graphic Project Luca Forcolini

In collaboration with di Gropello Collection.

Event in favor of Save the Children
With the support of Italiana Valutazione Rischi, Isopan, PoderNuovo and Sarment.