Exclusive Look into Piero Manzoni's Exhibit

Have you heard of the Milanese artist, Piero Manzoni? Well, you are about to because WhereMilan provided Anna, Alessandra, Joy and myself with press passes to the grand opening of Manzoni's Palazzo Reale exhibition! (A perk that comes with working for a tourism publication.)

Piero Manzoni (Image: Timeout.com)

Born in 1933, Manzoni lived only 30 more years until his death in 1963, due to a heart attack. During that time, he was an extreme benefactor of the avant-garde movement. Members of this movement had a tendency to experiment with various techniques and materials bringing new and innovative ideas to the art scene. Manzoni...now he was famous for introducing the world to a style of work called achrome. Achrome is created mainly out of a white, colorless rough gesso and/or karolin compound that is placed on a surface and left to dry. The outcome was not a work of art created by a self-imposed process but was created by the art itself. Here is one example of his achromes.

Achrome by Manzoni

The next Manzoni work I pondered about was titled "Linee". Inside the cardboard tube, was a scroll containing a simple, black line that went from end to end. Individuals were given the opportunity to buy these labeled tubes complete with Manzoni's autograph, the work's description and the length of the scroll. Next, it was up to the buyer to decide whether or not to open the tube.

Manzoni's "Linee"

"Magical Base" is where Manzoni presents a pedestal shaped platform as if it was meant for a statue. In fact, it was meant for a statue....a living statue. Here he would have participants stand on the specified area indicated by the two footprints; therefore, turning the actual individual into an working art. Manzoni then applied his signature to the skin of the subject.

"Magical Base" by Manzoni

Another of his most famous concepts is using the human body in an artful way. Not only did Manzoni sell a kit containing a balloon and instructions where the buyer could create the intended art work, but  he also sold hard boiled eggs with his thumbprint representing his signature. It was then at the buyer's discretion to decide if they wanted to eat the Manzoni's boiled egg art or not.

"Uova con Impronta" by Manzoni

In addition to selling eggs with his thumbprint and his breath, he also sold "Artist's Shit". These cans are probably some of his most famous works. In 2008, "Artist's Shit" can # 83 sold for 97,000 Pounds.

Artit's Shit by Manzoni

Overall, the Piero Manzoni exhibition at the Palazza Reale in Milan comes in second out of the three exhibits I've seen there; slightly beating out Andy Warhol. Thanks WhereMilan for this amazing experience!

Mind-blowing Exhibits at Pirelli HangarBicocca

When I say "contemporary art," what do you think of? Cement towers that are seven stories high? A used shipping container filled with old operating motors? Well, what I experienced at HangarBicocca is perhaps the best visual definition of the term!

"Iliokatakiniomumastilopsarodimakopiotita"

The first exhibit I will explain is their temporary one created by Italian artist, Micol Assael, titled "Iliokatakiniomumastilopsarodimakopiotita." (Done on purpose, the name is a bunch of Greek words combined to make no sense at all.) The exhibit space contained five cells/environments where Assael provides the viewer with an opportunity to absorb the beauty of what is taking place though sound, smell, sight, and feel. 

Micol Assael's, 432Hz. 

During this work, the exhibitor enters a large wooded room only to notice a series of frames containing backlit wax drawings accompanied with the hum of bees; think beehive. The work is called 432Hz because that is the frequency of the bee's hum.

Vorkuta

Referencing the artist's trip to Siberia, this is the coldest exhibit with an environment temperature of -30 degrees Celsius. (It might be because it is inside a refrigerator LOL) Vorkuta is the name of a mining town in the bitter cold northern part of Russia.

Assael's, Sub

Rather cool, this work is pure science. It uses dripping water as a pure source to create an electrical charge.

Mindfall

The smell of "fatigue", or just running electric motors and oil, happens to be what's inside this environment. With 21 old running motors, making music only a mechanic can love, there is an obvious reason why you are only allowed to stay inside for three minutes.

I think the video speaks for itself and explains Micol Assael's work titled, "Untitled," quite well.

The Seven Heavenly Palaces

Another more permanent exhibition is by the famed contemporary artist, Anselm Kiefer. When I first set eyes on Kiefer's exhibit, my first impression was simply jaw-dropping awe. Standing before me were seven concrete towers wieghing about 90 tons each and they looked like kid stacked building blocks. Each individual tower had a theme it followed.

Kiefer's Seven Heavenly Palaces...are you in Awe?

Tower 2: Melancholia...Each shard of glass represents
NASA classification numbers for stars.

Towers 5 & 6: JH & WH... Meteorites with symbolic meanings based off writings in the Kabbalah.

Just me,,,always asking random people to take a photo for me LOL

Warhol and Kandinsky Exhibts

For many centuries, The Palazzo Reale di Milano (The Royal Palace of Milan) was the home of Milan's city government. Nowadays, it is still an important part of the Milan government but on the tourism side as it houses some of the most world renown exhibitions and expositions. This time it showcased two of the most famous painters of all time...Andy Warhol and Wassily Kandinsky.

Andy Warhol: The Father of Pop Art

It's not everyday you get to see a gallery full of Andy Warhol masterpieces, but when you are in Milan....anything is possible. The Warhol exhibition at the Palazzo Reale, near the Duomo, contained  some of his well known pieces like the Campbell Soup Can, Mao Tse Tung, Self-portrait, Marilyn, etc. They even had  one of Warhol's "piss paintings" where the canvas was urinated on to cause an oxidation effect.

Warhol was fascinated with Leonardo da Vinci. Ironically, his last art exposition during his lifespan was called "The Last Supper" and was held right here in Milan. The tour was also international friendly as they had individual audio players explaining certain artworks in ENGLISH. :)

Andy's Liz Taylor

Lady Sketch

The Elvis Presley Boot

Campbell's Soup can

Andy's Flowers

Wassily Kandinsky: Father of the Abstract

Immediately after my mind being blown away by Andy Warhol, it was time to see Wassily Kandinsky's exhibition. At first I couldn't put a painting behind Kandinsky's name, but as soon as I entered the exhibit my exact thoughts were, "He was the one who painted that?!"

Born in Moscow, he originally studied law and economics but his concentration was soon to be pointed in a different direction...painting. I guess his educational background would explain how he moved towards becoming a theorist painter. Unfortunately, the two images below are not originally taken by me as the gallery security guard forced me to turn off my phone; nonetheless, these were two important Kandinsky works on display and the Palazzo Reale.

Sky Blue by Kandinsky

Yellow, Red, Blue by Kandinsky