Kengiro Azuma and Antonio Calderara: A Friendship of Fullness and Void in Piedmont
In Vacciago di Ameno, Piedmont, the Fondazione Antonio e Carmela Calderara is set to present 'Azuma. 100 per 100 kokoro,' an exhibition honoring Kengiro Azuma (1926-2016) in celebration of his 100th birthday. This event will commence on 27 June 2026 and continue until 4 October 2026, highlighting Azuma's bond with Antonio Calderara (1903-1978). The exhibition revisits Azuma's 2006 installation and includes a significant garden installation, bronze sculptures, small plaster pieces, and vibrant paintings. A noteworthy letter dated 5 February 1977 features Azuma expressing his apologies to Calderara. On 16 September 2026, Ambrogio Anri Azuma and Marco Sammicheli will explore their relationship at the Museo del Novecento in Milan, with Federica Minesso serving as curator.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Azuma. 100 per 100 kokoro' at Fondazione Antonio e Carmela Calderara, Vacciago di Ameno, from 27 June to 4 October 2026.
- Kengiro Azuma (1926-2016) was a Japanese artist who became Italian by adoption.
- Antonio Calderara (1903-1978) was an Italian painter from Abbiategrasso.
- The exhibition celebrates the friendship between Azuma and Calderara.
- It includes a garden installation with mirror structures and white metal triangles, echoing a 2006 project curated by Luciano Caramel.
- Bronze sculptures with pierced and hollowed surfaces highlight the concept of emptiness.
- Azuma moved to Italy in 1956 to study with Marino Marini at the Accademia di Brera.
- Azuma wrote poetry in Italian with a Japanese grammar and intonation.
- On 16 September 2026, Ambrogio Anri Azuma and Marco Sammicheli will dialogue at the Museo del Novecento in Milan.
- The site-specific work 'MU – P. 78' (1978) is included, placed on the highest loggia.
- The catalog is published by Electa with a contribution by Antonio D'Amico.
- The exhibition includes an archival section with letters, publications, and posters.
Entities
Artists
- Kengiro Azuma
- Antonio Calderara
- Marino Marini
- Lucio Fontana
- Vanni Scheiwiller
- Dadamaino
- Luciano Caramel
- Antonio D'Amico
- Federica Minesso
- Ambrogio Anri Azuma
- Marco Sammicheli
- Ambrogio Azuma
- Paola Bacuzzi
- Eraldo Misserini
- Carmela Calderara
Institutions
- Fondazione Antonio e Carmela Calderara
- Museo del Novecento
- Accademia di Brera
- Electa
- Fondazione Calderara
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera
- Galleria Minima
- Gruppo Punto
- Cimitero Monumentale di Milano
Locations
- Vacciago di Ameno
- Italy
- Milan
- Yamagata
- Japan
- Abbiategrasso
- Piedmont
- Vacciago
- Ameno