Milan Exhibition Pairs 17th-Century Portraits and Flemish Landscapes with Contemporary Art

BKV Fine Art in Milan is presenting two concurrent exhibitions at Casa Koelliker, curated to reinterpret historical art genres through contemporary perspectives. The first show, curated by Marco Meneguzzo, features works by Vincenzo Agnetti (1926–1981) in dialogue with 17th-century portraits. Agnetti's felt canvases with text, such as 'Io sono l’Alfa e l’Omega,' accompany portraits like 'Ritratto di Dio' from Gianni Malabarba's collection, encouraging existential reflection. The second exhibition, curated by Gaspare Luigi Marcone, centers on landscapes, starting with Jan Brueghel the Younger's 'Allegoria del fuoco' from the late 1600s. Contemporary artists Linda Carrara, Sophie Ko, Fabio Roncato, and Vincenzo Schillaci contribute multimedia works exploring themes of time and transformation. Both exhibitions are collectively titled 'Essere e Tempo,' referencing Martin Heidegger, and aim to challenge traditional art forms by merging past and present. The events highlight Milan's role in fostering innovative art dialogues, with the gallery's new exhibition space inaugurated last year hosting the landscape-focused section.