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!

Day Trip: Milan to Bergamo

Bergamo: An Historic Walk in the Altitudes

At just about 25 miles northeast of Milan sits the Italian city of Bergamo, and it is the place to be on sunny, pleasantly warm Sunday in March. Reaching Bergamo from Milan is easy, quick, and inexpensive; thus, making it the perfect day trip destination. It only took the group of six (Nico, Vir, David, Dani, Manu, and myself) a short ride on the green metro line to the Porta Garibaldi train station, a €4.55 train ticket (that's right...an one-way ticket for under €5) using an automated ticketing station, and an one hour long train ride to reach the remarkable Italian town.

Sources say Bergamo is the 2nd most visited city in the Lombardy region...right after Milan, of course. The most distinctive characteristic of the city happens to be the city's two centers; Citta Alta, the historic part situated on top of a hill surrounded by 17th century defensive walls, and Citta Bassa which is the newer area wrapping itself around the base of the hill. The upper and lower sections of the city are connected with roads, stairs, and a cable car making it easily accessible for anyone.

Citta Alta is above the wall; Citta Bassa sits below

Pretty much the entire day was spent up in the historic Citta Alta section of the city. One of the most spectacular sights I've seen since my arrival in Italy is the La Rocca di Bergamo (The Fortress of Bergamo). The medieval castle with its towers and thick walls depict history quite well....dominance and authority. Today, it is a fantastic observation point providing scenic,panoramic views of Bergamo.

Panoramic view of Bergamo

View of Citta Bassa from la Rocca

View of Citta Alta from la Rocca

Just as in Milan, and I assume other Italian cities, the cathedrals were extravagant. In Bergamo, I visited two of the more prominent ones...the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Cathedral of Bergamo. Both located right next to each other near the town square, Palazzo della Ragione which sits on the location of the old town square called Piazza Vecchia.

The "emotional wall" in Citta Alta...I call it that because of the faces lining the top. LOL

Buildings along a street in Citta Alta

The Facade of Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore's detailed dome

The Main Alter in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore 

 Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

Inside the Cathedral of Bergamo

Street leading towards the Duomo Plaza

I can compare Bergamo to nothing in the United States; therefore, making it one of northern Italy's unique gems.

The Travelers (Nico, Vir, Manu, Dani, and David) 

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

Basilica of San Lorenzo

Saturday: Church Exlploration

No matter what your religious beliefs are, when you come to Milan you HAVE to take some time out of your day and visit any and every church that crosses your path. If I'm correct, I think Nico and I visited around five of them on Saturday. The one I will be describing in this post is the Basilica of San Lorenzo. 

With the origin of this magnificent Catholic church dating back to the late fourth (390AD) - early fifth (402AD) centuries, the original structure has been rebuilt several times due to fires and other natural disasters. However despite these setbacks, the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Colonne di San Lorenzo (the square plaza in front of the basilica) are still symbols of the Roman Empire legacy in Milan. 

Complete with decorative marble and early christian mosaics, inside the basilica you will notice the main geometric shapes used for its development where squares and circles. Over history, several chapels have even been added along the sides of the original structure. One in particular which is still standing and can be seen by the public for a small fee (1-2 Euros) is the Chapel of St. Aquilino. This chapel dates back to the origin of the basilica...late 4th century.

Overall, this was an amazing church located in the center of Milan, Italy. Milan...a city for anyone who wants to take a journey back in time. Enjoy the pictures!

The front of the basilica

The main dome...not original but still remarkable

Let the sun shine in! (Basilica's main light source)

Decorative marble art 

Notice that details are everywhere

Mosaic in the Chapel of St. Aquilino

Ceiling above the Main Alter in the chapel of St. Aquilino

The back of the Basilica