27-29 January 2017
Autostazione di Bologna, Italy
Piazza XX Settembre, 6
http://www.setupcontemporaryart.com/2017/
Theme: Equilibrio (Balance)
The theme of this year’s SetUp Contemporary Art Fair was “Equilibrio” (Balance). Inspired to that issue were the two founders of SetUp – Simona Gavioli (President) and Alice Zannoni (Director) – by a quote of Søren Kierkegaard:
“Osare è perdere momentaneamente l’equilibrio.
Non osare è perdere se stessi.”“Daring means losing your equilibrium for a moment,
not daring means losing yourself.”
More than the themes of the previous editions, this citation is applicable as leitmotiv for the history of the art fair beginning in 2013, since they dared to create this independent show. The success has proven them right to jump into this adventure: started in 2013 with 23 galleries represented, the fifth edition had grown up to 60 galleries, thereof a quarter foreign participations. Self-evident is that the number of candidates was even higher, but, due to the will to maintain the quality of this XXXX-L-version, it was indispensable to make a choice by a scientific committee.
In addition to the three pre-existing units, Main Section, Solo Show and Drawing the World (curated by Mónica Álvarez Careaga), there were two new divisions in the SetUp: P(I)IGS CAN FLY and S.O.S. SETUP OPEN SPACE. P(I)IGS CAN FLY curated by Eleonora Battiston, was a section, dedicated to foreign galleries coming of destabilised countries due to the crises in Europe like Spain, Portugal, Greece and Ireland. Their common problem is a new social, political and economic instability that obviously effects the cultural sector. In this situation, artists are searching for new subjects and contents, to find a new equilibrium inside themselves and inside a globalised society. S.O.S. SETUP OPEN SPACE underlined the experimental character of the show: it was the intention to present artists with revolutionary languages and expressions, even though they might not be compatible to the market, but who have no fear to cross borders.
Furthermore, SetUp offered “Handover” as a small section to fathom the equilibrium between art and design. “Special Project” enabled eight artists or curators to present a single venture. Since children are representing the future, the organisers dedicate the “Area Kinder” each year to invite them into a creative laboratory. Naturally, the “Bookshop / Area Editoria” could not be missed. The “Area Talk” with conferences, meetings and round tables was not situated in the proper exhibition space, but in the atrium of the Autostazione (coach station) where the SetUp is traditionally held. This opened to by-passers and waiting people participation without paying the entrance fee or get interested and pay the affordable admission. Here becomes obvious, that this unusual location bears many advantages. The Bologna coach station connects the town to other cities in the region, in Italy and all over Europe. Situated close to the train station and the city centre it attracts not only art professionals, but as well a young public interested in art.
An extension of this opening was made by the “SetUp Plus”. Before, during and after the Bolognese Art Week there were numerous exhibitions and events all over the town. Besides the association of a huge offering connected with the Arte Fiera – the “official” art fair – there were nearly 40 initiatives in galleries and more unconventional spaces like bars, restaurants and stores.
Not only due to the different opening hours, is the SetUp Contemporary Art Fair not a competitor to the Arte Fiera, but rather a complement: the SetUp starts, when the Arte Fiera closes. So the motivated visitor can pass the day at the fairground and come in the evening until 1 a.m. (Sunday only 22 p.m.) to the Autostazione in the heart of Bologna. Moreover, the participating galleries with their often young, emerging artists are more experimental than the already established exhibitors at the oldest enduring art fair in Italy. It is more than interesting to have both in the same town in the same week, always the last in January!
In the following, we will show some impressions, how the exhibitors fulfilled the claim to reflect about equilibrium and to dare in order not to lose themselves:
Main Section:
Cartavetra, Firenze
Galleria B4, Bologna
ART and ARS Gallery, Galatina
città dell’arte, Venice
Il Cerchio e le Gocce, Turin
a-space gallery, Rheinfelden, Switzerland
MuseoNuovaEra, Bari
BI-Box Art Space, Biella
VV8 Artecontemporanea, Reggio Emilia
metroquadro, Turin
Sensi Arte, Colle Val d’Elsa/isculptures, San Gimignano
S.O.S SetUp Open Space:
Polisonum: Sound Detection #01, 30.06.2016, International Airport Capodichino, Napels, sound site plan
Solo Show:
ABC Arte Bologna Cultura: Valentina D’Accardi: Perpetuus. Atto I.
Special Project:
Paolo Balboni, Die Mauer II 1961-2016
Daniela Alfarano: Un giorno raccoglierò le mie piume e volerò via
Drawing the World:
Galerie Ulf Larson, Cologne, Germany
