At the first weekend of February, numerous art events took place in Bologna, Italy. Besides the 42nd edition of the ARTE FIERA as point of departure, there were the SetUp Contemporary Art Fair and the Fruit Exhibition. But that is not all: by tradition, there are many other events throughout the city. The ARTE FIERA expanded its program into the city centre by the section POLIS, just as the SetUp with its SetUp Plus. Beyond that, museums, foundations and naturally the Bolognese art galleries presented special exhibitions to attract the audience. In the following, you will find some general information about the events. Our impressions will be shown in three single articles about the ARTE FIERA, SetUp and ARTE CITY.
ARTE FIERA: A traditional art fair, but not only
1 – 5 February 2018, BolognaFiere, Piazza Costituzione, Bologna
www.artefiera.it
The ARTE FIERA 42 took place in two halls of the Bolognese fairground. Here, 152 galleries and 30 exhibitors attached to editing and graphics presented the works of their artists. 48.000 visitors could see oeuvres in five segments. The Main Section, for contemporary art had a subdivision Modernity. Monographic exhibitions were on view in the Solo Show. PHOTO, was reserved for galleries with photography. For NUEVA VISTA the jury selected galleries with innovative concepts regarding their exhibition or artistic practice. PRINTVILLE, was dedicated to independent activities not strictly linked to fine arts, but sometimes more to handicraft, music, sound art and editions.
Besides the sales exhibition, there was a two-day international conference Tra mostra e fiera: entre chien et loup (Between Exhibition and Fair: between dog and wolf). Moreover, the already mentioned section POLIS was subdivided into four parts. POLIS / Artworks presented artworks in suggestive and unexpected locations in town, like the Museum of the Palazzo Poggi, Palazzo D’Accursio and the University Library. POLIS / Cinema showed films at the fair and in the MAMbo (Museum of Modern Art of Bologna), reflecting about the Bolognese and Italian communist and post-communist identity. POLIS / Special Project: Performing the Gallery was an immaterial event in a booth at the fair, where artists performed in a special area. Furthermore, there was a series of workshops held by artists at the fairground and in the Foundation Collegio Artistico Venturoli.
The section POLIS / BBQ pointed to six artist-run or non-profit spaces in the city. Localedue presented the new performance by Matteo Coluccia. In the Gelateria Sogni di Ghiaccio was the Belgian multi discipline artist Dennis Tyfus on view. The Porto dell’Arte called into direction Spain with Alvaro Chior, who questioned the sensory changes with regard to digital devices. From Australia came the collective Greatest Hits, who decorated the three showcases of Tripla. In the new location of Malgrado five artists investigated about the possibilities to form an exhibition bearing in mind unforeseen effects. Brand-new in Bologna is the spaceless space Prontissmi. For the BBQ they were accommodated by the local radio station Radio Città Fujiko to perform on air. BBQ was framed by an opening and closing party and interactive events.
SetUp Contemporary Art Fair: emerging artists in a historical Palazzo
1 – 4 February 2018, Palazzo Pallavicino, Bologna
www.setupcontemporaryart.com
This year, the SetUp radically changed its outfit. Formerly situated in the Autostazione (coach station) of Bologna, a building from 1967, the fair moved to the now neoclassical Palazzo Pallavicino, originally built in the 15th century. Due to construction measures, this transfer was necessary. Even though the previous site was characterised by an easy accessibility close to the central station, the new position – in the heart of the inner city – is not less central. Visitors on tour to other events could simply pass by.
Regrettably, the number of exhibitors needed to be reduced. Still the choice was interesting, since the exhibitors are mainly smaller experimental galleries. The location created a stimulating contrast between ancient ambience and contemporary art. Moreover, there is an intellectual affinity: once the Palazzo Pallavicino was a centre of artistic innovation, where young W.A. Mozart played and which was frequented by the European aristocracy and it was decorated by at that time emerging artists.
Under the leitmotiv, ATTESA (expectation) were 34 galleries gathered, thereof 27 Italian and 7 foreign. Inside this exhibition, there was a diffuse show on display. BREAK! presented nine works breaking with the subject, the common curatorial practice and far from being site-specific. In addition, SetUp presented three special projects. DAS FEST (The Feast) by Hannes Egger was an interactive performance, where the participants transformed into imaginary sculptures. MOUVEMENT by the collective Polisonum was a sound installation of a re-elaboration of Mozart’s minuet k94, which he performed in 1770 in the Palazzo Pallavicino. Panem Et Circenses dedicated their performance Goethe 53 to the publisher Il Rio from Mantova on the occasion of its five years enduring activity.
The Fruit Exhibition: rare art editions from all over the world
2 – 4 February 2018, Palazzo Re Enzo, Bologna
www.fruitexhibition.com
Since three years, the Fruit Exhibition is – as the SetUp too – based in a historical Bolognese building, the Palazzo Re Enzo. It is close to the city’s main square, the Piazza Maggiore. The fair is the fruit of a selection of independent art publishers. This year 150 participants from Italy, Europe and even overseas, presented publications, difficult to find in “normal” bookshops. They brought paper and digital editions of artist books, catalogues, periodicals and much more.
In addition to the main section, the Fruit Exhibition focussed on the subjects queer and fashion with specialised editors on the one or the other field. Nevertheless, both topics overlap and influence each other. Moreover, there were special exhibitions in the Palazzo and off site, talks, performances during the three days of the fair and the Night Juice – White Night Party on Saturday evening.
ARTE CITY, White Night and more
2 – 4 Febraury 2018, Bologna
www.artcity.bologna.it
Traditionally, the Bolognese museums, galleries and art spaces have special opening hours during the five days of the ARTE FIERA. Usually not accessible Palazzos are open for special exhibitions. Numerous events are associated to the organisation of the ARTE FIERA in cooperation with the municipality of Bologna, listed in the program ARTE CITY, briefly mentioned above. Likewise, the SetUp Contemporary Art Fair indicates exhibitions and happenings of galleries and other partner locations. In addition, there are countless other initiatives from galleries, foundations and individual artists. Therefore, it is possible to appreciate a huge quantity of various artistic expressions during this time, culminating in the White Night on Saturday evening, when the biggest part of locations is open until midnight. It is necessary to select the most attracting points to plan a tour. Nevertheless, it is worth to allow oneself to float from time to time to discover unexpected spaces and talk to gallerists or artists.
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