The Arts of Piranesi. CaixaForum Madrid

Those who have been my students or those who know my work about 70's twentieth century, not be surprised that I recommend this exhibition. In his working methods, Giambattista Piranesi (Venice, 1720 ? Rome, 1778) was a precursor of the role played by architects and designers today. Now, for the first time, an exhibition at CaixaForum Madrid highlights Piranesi’s modernity in an approach to his work never before taken: in The Arts of Piranesi. Architect, Engraver, Antiquarian, Vedutista and Designer, the Venetian engraver is presented as a “man of our time”, one engaged in renewing architecture, as the most advanced techniques are used to reveal the richness of his work, his eclecticism and his eccentric creative vein.

Piranesi (drawing by Giuseppe Cades). Portrait of Giambattista Piranesi. Frontispiece of the second posthumous edition of Le Antichità Romane (1784), volume I. Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venice.

The show was conceived by Michele De Lucchi, produced by the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in association with Factum Arte and organised by ”la Caixa” Foundation. It features more than 250 original etchings and focuses on the multi-disciplinary approach, style and extraordinary modernity of the Venetian artist. This it does through a series of contemporary interventions inspired by Piranesi’s work: a 3D video projection of the Carceri d’invenzione and eight original objects conceived by Piranesi and illustrated in his etchings, but never before manufactured. Additionally, The Arts of Piranesi features Gabriele Basilico’s views of Roma and Paestum, in which the photographer pays personal tribute to the great master.

The Arts of Piranesi. Architect, Engraver, Antiquarian, Vedutista and Designer.
Dates.- 25 April - 9 September 2012.
Place.- CaixaForum Madrid (Paseo del Prado, 36).
Concept.- Michele De Lucchi.
Produced by.- Fondazione Giorgio Cini and Factum Arte.
Organised by.- ”la Caixa” Foundation.
Curators.- Giuseppe Pavanello, director of the Istituto di Storia dell’Arte de la Fondazione Giorgio Cini; Michele De Lucchi, director of the aMDL architecture studio (Milan); and Adam Lowe, director of Factum Arte.

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