↳ Exhibitions

Retrofuture. Notes for a Collection at MACRO

May 31, 2021

Artists: Carola Bonfili, Costanza Candeloro, Ludovica Carbotta, Gianluca Concialdi, Giulia Crispiani, Giorgio Di Noto, Beatrice Marchi, Diego Marcon, Francesco Pedraglio, SAGG NAPOLI, Davide Stucchi and others to come

Exhibition title: Retrofuture. Notes for a Collection

Venue: MACRO, Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome, Rome, Italy

Date: February 3, 2021 – in progress

Photography: images copyright and courtesy of the artist and MACRO, Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome

RETROFUTURE is the column of Museum for Preventive Imagination devoted to rethinking the museum’s collection in the perspective of a pathway in progress aimed at the newer generations, where different timeframes overlap to investigate the role of a public collection of contemporary art in the 21^st century.

The backdrop of the evolution of this space is provided by the large wallpapers reproducing photographic portraits of the MACRO, shot by Giovanna Silva in the storerooms of the museum. The project, titled Catabasi, brings to light the works stored in the off-limits spaces where they are conserved, granting them a new-found visibility and triggering reflections on the status of the artwork in an era in which it is increasingly mediated by images. The survey has also activated the idea of a meta-collection, organized to gather a new nucleus of works by young Italian artists, until the end of 2022, in a stratification of generations and languages. Inside RETROFUTURE works and stories will accumulate in a catalogue without a fil rouge, becoming a collective dimension that defines a common landscape.

New works will be introduced into the space at different times throughout the coming months and years. RETROFUTURE opens with the simultaneous presence of eleven artists: Carola Bonfili (1981), Costanza Candeloro (1990), Ludovica Carbotta (1982), Gianluca Concialdi (1981), Giulia Crispiani (1986), Giorgio Di Noto (1990), Beatrice Marchi (1986), Diego Marcon (1985), SAGG NAPOLI (1991), Francesco Pedraglio (1981), Davide Stucchi (1988).

Carola Bonfili presents Polia (2019), a video inspired by the ambiguous, polymorphic nature of the woodcut illustrations of the dream of Poliphilus, contained in the allegorical novel Hypnerotomachia Poliphili (1499).

U (2020) by Costanza Candeloro, inspired by the homonymous Netflix’s series, is a glass display case with which the artist points to processes of conservation connected with an obsessive desire for possession.

A bas relief by Ludovica Carbotta, Untitled (Stine) (2020), brings to mind the story of a forgotten past, that of the Telamons, who have lost any memory of their lives.

Giulia Crispiani with Il futuro era ieri (2020) outlines the draft of a future publication which explores where museums and their works would end up if Rome were to be dissolved by end-of-season monsoons.

Gianluca Concialdi brings the installation Santissima Pizzeria (2020), a mobile kitchen lab that calls for the active participation of the observer, calling into question the more contemplative aspects of art.

Giorgio Di Noto explores the distance between ethics and aesthetics with two lightboxes from the series The Offing (2020): their images, which initially seem pleasant and familiar, turn out to have been made by ISIS terrorists.

The video by Beatrice Marchi, Story of a Girl Band (2018), narrates a group of characters—recurring figures in the artist’s practice—who meet in passing on the moving walkways of an airport, and are transformed into a girl band in the spotlight of a red carpet.

Diego Marcon presents Oh mio cagnetto, (2020): a collection of 81 little poems configured as an artist’s book, conceived for wide circulation and published by LENZ Press.

Based on the artist’s current research on the Taranta, AM I INTUITIVE OR AM I PARANOID (2020) is a site-specific graffiti work made by SAGG NAPOLI. Maziar Firouzi, +39 02 8295 4344 (2020-2022) is a group of seven bronze models made by Francesco Pedraglio, which interact with each other and with the space, in keeping with a script provided by the artist.

Hanging from two light bulbs on the ceiling, the two imperceptible interventions by Davide Stucchi, entitled Mobile (Rome) (2020), are composed of iron coat hangers bent by the artist. They hide amongst the various presences in the room, taking on different poses, moved by the air, shifted by the passage of others in the space.

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit Agnese Bedini e Melania Dalle Grave di DSL Studio

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Costanza Candeloro, U, 2020. Drawings, display glass case, iron base. Courtesy the artist. Beatrice Marchi, Story of a Girl Band, 2018. HD video, 5’35”. With the voice of: Alessandro Agudio, Marvin Moises Almaraz Dosal, Beatrice Marchi, Giangiacomo Rossetti, Davide Stucchi. Sound mixing: Franco Curfone. Courtesy the artist, SANDY BROWN, Berlin. Giorgio Di Noto, Senza titolo dalla serie The Offing, 2020. Inkjet print on blacklight support mounted on lightbox. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio.

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Francesco Pedraglio, Maziar Firouzi, +39 02 8295 4344, 2020-2022. Seven bronze stages, backdrop in painted canvas and acrylic, iron trestles, performance. Courtesy the artist, Norma Mangione Gallery, Turin. Ludovica Carbotta, Untitled (Stine), 2020. Bas-relief, water-based resin. Courtesy the artist. Giulia Crispiani, Il futuro era ieri, 2020. Mixed media. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Gianluca Concialdi, Santissima Pizzeria, 2020. Iron, wok, ashtray in glass from Val D’Elsa, cork, burned animal fat, Jaguar bonnet. Courtesy the artist, Clima, Milan. Davide Stucchi, Mobile (Rome), 2020. Aluminium, tag, wire, ceramic lamp holder, light bulb. Courtesy the artist, Deborah Schamoni, Munich, Martina Simeti, Milan. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Giorgio Di Noto, Senza titolo dalla serie The Offing, 2020. Inkjet print on blacklight support mounted on lightbox. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Davide Stucchi, Mobile (Rome), 2020. Aluminium, tag, wire, ceramic lamp holder, light bulb. Courtesy the artist, Deborah Schamoni, Munich, Martina Simeti, Milan. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Ludovica Carbotta, Untitled (Stine), 2020. Bas-relief, water-based resin. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Francesco Pedraglio, Maziar Firouzi, +39 02 8295 4344, 2020-2022. Seven bronze stages, backdrop in painted canvas and acrylic, iron trestles, performance. Courtesy the artist, Norma Mangione Gallery, Turin. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Francesco Pedraglio, Maziar Firouzi, +39 02 8295 4344, 2020-2022. Seven bronze stages, backdrop in painted canvas and acrylic, iron trestles, performance. Courtesy the artist, Norma Mangione Gallery, Turin. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Detail. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

SAGG NAPOLI, AM I INTUITIVE OR AM I PARANOID, 2020. Graffito. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

SAGG NAPOLI, AM I INTUITIVE OR AM I PARANOID, 2020. Graffito. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Detail. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Costanza Candeloro, U, 2020. Drawings, display glass case, iron base. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Carola Bonfili, Polia, 2019. Masks, latex, video 4K, 16’42”. Audio by Francesco Fonassi. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Carola Bonfili, Polia, 2019. Masks, latex, video 4K, 16’42”. Audio by Francesco Fonassi. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Detail. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Gianluca Concialdi, Santissima Pizzeria, 2020. Iron, wok, ashtray in glass from Val D’Elsa, cork, burned animal fat, Jaguar bonnet. Courtesy the artist, Clima, Milan. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Diego Marcon, Oh mio cagnetto, 2020. Book, LENZ Press, Milan. Courtesy the artist, ERMES ERMES, Vienna. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURO. Notes for a Collection Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Giulia Crispiani, Il futuro era ieri, 2020. Mixed media. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Giulia Crispiani, Il futuro era ieri, 2020. Mixed media. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Detail. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Beatrice Marchi, Story of a Girl Band, 2018. HD video, 5’35”. With the voice of: Alessandro Agudio, Marvin Moises Almaraz Dosal, Beatrice Marchi, Giangiacomo Rossetti, Davide Stucchi. Sound mixing: Franco Curfone. Courtesy the artist, SANDY BROWN, Berlin. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Beatrice Marchi, Story of a Girl Band, 2018. HD video, 5’35”. With the voice of: Alessandro Agudio, Marvin Moises Almaraz Dosal, Beatrice Marchi, Giangiacomo Rossetti, Davide Stucchi. Sound mixing: Franco Curfone. Courtesy the artist, SANDY BROWN, Berlin. Gianluca Concialdi, Santissima Pizzeria, 2020. Iron, wok, ashtray in glass from Val D’Elsa, cork, burned animal fat, Jaguar bonnet. Courtesy the artist, Clima, Milan. Davide Stucchi, Mobile (Rome), 2020. Aluminium, tag, wire, ceramic lamp holder, light bulb. Courtesy the artist, Deborah Schamoni, Munich, Martina Simeti, Milan. Carola Bonfili, Polia, 2019. Masks, latex, video 4K, 16’42”. Audio by Francesco Fonassi. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio

Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021. Photo credit: Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave of DSL Studio