Arnaldo Pomodoro's The Great Theatre of Civilizations Opens at Rome's Colosseo Quadrato

Fendi and Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro present 'Arnaldo Pomodoro. Il Grande Teatro delle Civiltà' at Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana in Rome, opening May 12. Curated by Lorenzo Respi and Andrea Viliani, the exhibition explores the relationship between visual and performing arts through around thirty works created between the late 1950s and 2021. For the first time, archival materials from Pomodoro's Milan studio—including documents, photographs, sketches, and drawings, many unpublished—are displayed in sliding drawers for public consultation. The show is not a retrospective but a 'theatre' autobiography highlighting Pomodoro's engagement with ancient, modern, and mythical civilizations. Key works include 'Forme del mito' (1983) placed at the four external corners, 'Le battaglie' (1995), 'Movimento in piena aria e nel profondo' (1996-97), 'Grande tavola della memoria' (1959-1965), 'Il cubo' (1961-1962), 'Continuum' (2010), and 'Osso di seppia' (2011-2021). The exhibition is free, runs until October 1, and is accompanied by a Skira catalogue. This is the seventh show organized by Fendi since 2015 when it established its headquarters at Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana. The collaboration renews a partnership that began in Milan in 2013, when Fendi opened its headquarters in the building that once housed the Fondazione's exhibition space, featuring Pomodoro's permanent 'Labirinto' installation.