20th Biennial of Contemporary Woodcut Opens in Carpi

The 20th edition of the Biennial of Contemporary Woodcut opened on November 5, 2022 at the Palazzo dei Pio Museums in Carpi, Italy. Dubbed the 'Biennial of Biennials,' it celebrates 40 years of the city's dedication to woodcut, an ancient relief printing technique. Curated by Enzo Di Martino and Manuela Rossi, the exhibition highlights the modernity of this historical art form pioneered by Ugo da Carpi in the early Renaissance. The visit is divided into three spaces: the Woodcut Rooms, displaying eight precious sheets by Ugo da Carpi and a selection from the deposits; the Khaled Room, offering an overview of past Triennial and Biennial editions; and the Oven Room, featuring a video installation. The Biennial runs until October 1, 2023. Carpi has a long tradition with woodcut, having inaugurated the Museum of Woodcut in 1937 within Palazzo dei Pio, hosted two editions of a Triennial dedicated to the technique in the 1970s, and launched the first Biennial in 1980 with international collaborations including Cristea Gallery in London, Cabinet d'Arts Graphiques in Geneva, and Sprengel Museum in Hanover.