by Reach for the stars of contemporary art
Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi leads his youngest Exhibition Reach for the stars with thought-provoking works by leading contemporary artists including Maurizio Cattelan, Cindy Sherman, Damian Hirst, Anish Kapoor, Sarah Luke, Adrian Villar Rojas, Paul Althamer, Lara Favaretto, William Kentridge, Berlinde De Bruyckere, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye and many more. The show, which runs from March 4 to June 18, 2023, explores today’s contemporary art through more than 70 selected and exhibited works from the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Collection.
Images courtesy of Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi | Photos © Ela Bialkowska OKNO Studio
Reaching for the Stars brings to life the changes that the art field has undergone over the last few decades through a constellation of artworks that adorn every room at Palazzo Strozzi, from the Piano Nobile to the Strozzina. The exhibition, curated by Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi General Director Arturo Galansino, is also a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Collection, one of the world’s most prestigious collections of contemporary art.
The exhibition oscillates between painting, sculptureinstallations, photography, videos and performance art to engage visually with visitors and take them on a voyage of discovery into contemporary art of the last few decades. Experimental themes come into play such as identity and the body, the relationship between the figurative and the abstract, the juxtaposition of history with more intimate personal stories, and individuality and community.
Maurizio Cattelan, La rivoluzione siamo noi, 2000
Palazzo Strozzi on the inclusion of fundamental works
reach for the stars Palazzo Strozzi in Florence houses seminal works such as those of Anish Kapoor 1000 names (1983) and Damien Hirsts love is great (1994) alongside an extensive selection of works by Maurizio Cattelan, Paola Pivi and Lara Favaretto, among others. The exhibition is divided into thematic areas, one of which highlights the famous series by Cindy Sherman Untitled film still (1978-80), which stimulates social and political reflection on the issue of identity.
It refers to works by Shirin Neshat, the screen print by Barbara Kruger Untitled (Not Ugly Enough) (1997) and the organic sculpture by Pawel Althamer self portrait (1993). The exploration of sculpture expands to include huge pieces by Andra Ursuţa, Adrian Villar Rosa, Berlinde De Bruyckere and Mark Manders, whose work analyzes the body and figure through deconstruction and reassembly. The exhibition is the result of a project based on the desire to pair timeless works with new works created specifically for the exhibition, in order to continue the dialogue to advance contemporary art.
