Piemonte Italia

Castello di Rivoli

In Europe, Torino is considered one of the main centres of contemporary art. As a matter of fact, in recent years the region of Piemonte has found a way to carve itself a prominent role on the international horizon by offering the public constant, high-profile activities. A success based upon dialogue and collaborations that public institutions and private facilities built together over the years. The museums that have pre-eminent roles are the Gam – Galleria d’Arte Moderna (Modern Art Gallery) with a permanent collection over 20,000 works and the Museo d’Arte Contemporanea - Castello di Rivoli in an extraordinary contrast between the ancient Savoy residence - redesigned by Filippo Juvarra for Vittorio Amedeo II and renovated for the Regione Piemonte by architect Andrea Bruno - and works by contemporary artists like Vedova, Pistoletto, Paolini, Merz, Sol Lewitt, Long, Anselmo, Fabro and Kounellis. Equally extraordinary is the promotion of cultural activity related to contemporary by the Accademia Albertina which, aside from its long curriculum in the educational sphere of artistic disciplines, features a full series of temporary exhibits.
The role of Foundations dedicated to contemporary art are also relevant: the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo on via Modane alternates between an agenda of exhibits, seminars and conventions whereas the Fondazione Merz keeps the works, archives and projects of the spiritual father of Arte Povera. A gallery of artists gather here: it is the great tradition of Torino’s dealers who have helped develop new talents to then present them onto the international market. Names like Sperone, Pistoi, Tazzoli, Persano, Paludetto and Martano have been a link between Torino and the world, bringing International art to Torino and – as in the case of Gian Marco Sperone – familiarising the world with the most significant names in Italian art.
The appoinment with the market is “Artissima” which makes “the dreams that money can buy” come true, as Man Ray would have said. Exactly the way artistic avant-garde wanted it, Torino takes art outside of the exhibit and museums to make everyday life more beautiful and use of urban space more pleasant. “Luci d’Artista” lights up Torino’s monuments, streets and squares with works by Merz, Horn, Buren, Vercruyssen and Paladino. Rudi Fuchs’ “Artecittà”, sponsored by the CRT Art Foundation, commissions eleven world-famous artists - Anselmo, Kounellis, Kirkeby, Mainolfi, Merz, Paolini, Penone, Pichler, Pistoletto, Rückriem, Zorio. They are requested to create an installation to be integrated into the recuperation of the urban areas of the “railway loop” and the OGR (Railway Repair Shops) – a fascinating example of industrial architecture. It is from this ideal constellation of artists, museum directors, art dealers, critics and collectors that art itineraries throughout Piemonte depart. In Biella, Michelangelo Pistoletto founded Cittadellarte, “a new model of artistic and cultural institution that places art in direct interaction with various sectors of society”; in Guarene in the 18th –century building of the piazza del Municipio opened one of the branches of the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. The former Filatoio di Caraglio (Wool Mill at Caraglio) has been transformed in a cultural centre open for interesting thematic exhibit projects, while art dealer Franz Paludetto transferred his time-honoured art gallery to the castello di Rivara .