Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Italy celebrated Festa della Repubblica, also known as Italy’s Republic Day, on June 2. It was on this day in 1946 that Italians voted in favor of a republic, rejecting the monarchy that had been discredited during World War II.
The celebration of Festa della Repubblica takes on added meaning as Italy and India celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Exhibition in Delhi
To commemorate this important milestone and provide exposure to Indian audiences about Italian ideas and art, “The Grand Italian Vision” exhibition has opened in Delhi.
This unique exhibition showcases a diverse selection of 72 significant artworks from the Farnesina Collection. It is being hosted at Bikaner House, New Delhi, from May 26 to June 22.
Curated by world-renowned art historian Achille Bonito Oliva, ‘The Grand Italian Vision’ features works by 63 celebrated artists, including Carla Accardi, Afro, EnzoCucchi, Arturo Martini, Alberto Burri, Mirko, PietroRuffo, Sandro Chia, and Fabio Mauri. The exhibition displays avant-garde works of sculpture, mosaic, painting, photography, and installations.
Historic milestone
This year’s edition of the exhibition represents a historic milestone as the artworks from the Farnesina Collection travel outside of Italy for the first time. Iconic pieces of Italian contemporary art, such as Umberto Boccioni’s futuristic bronze sculpture titled ‘Unique Forms of Continuity in Space’ and Michelangelo Pistoletto’s gilded bronze version of the renowned Etruscan statue, ‘L’etrusco,’ are among the notable works showcased.
The Farnesina Collection, originally housed in the Palazzo dellaFarnesina, the building for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, comprises over 530 works by 280 artists, amassed by former secretary general Umberto Vattani.
This exhibition serves as a moment of cultural dialogue between Italy and India and stands as the centerpiece of a rich cultural program that highlights both the contemporary and traditional aspects of the India-Italy partnership.