Alchemilla Association: A Renaissance Palace as Contemporary Art Lab in Bologna

The Alchemilla association, founded by architect Camilla Sanguinetti, operates out of the 16th-century Palazzo Vizzani in Bologna, transforming its grand halls into a dynamic hub for artistic experimentation. The association, born from the collaboration of cultural professionals including artists, curators, performers, and collectors, explores visual arts, performing arts, landscape, architecture, and urbanism through exhibitions, performances, workshops, and theoretical sessions. A key initiative is its residency program for international artists under 30, supported by Fondazione Zucchelli and Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna. Past residents include Elena Bastogi, Maria and Carminda Soares, and Zheng Ningyuan, who engaged with the palace's spaces as both measure and tool for their work. Additionally, four ateliers are granted to artists and designers for about a year, fostering projects with social and environmental themes. Future plans include a solo exhibition by Alessandro Pessoli, titled "City of God," curated by Fulvio Chimento from May 7 to July 10, 2021, as part of Art City Bologna 2021. The show, organized with greengrassi (London) and ZERO… (Milan), will feature Pessoli's painting, sculpture, drawing, and terracotta works, some created for the occasion. Alchemilla also aims to extend beyond the palace, collaborating with the Scienceground group on a project in Bologna's urban forest, Prati di Caprara.