Bona de Mandiargues Retrospective at Museo Nivola in Sardinia
The Museo Nivola, located in Orani, Sardinia, is currently showcasing 'Bona de Mandiargues. Rifare il mondo', marking the first significant retrospective of the surrealist artist Bona de Mandiargues (1926, Rome – 2000, Paris). The exhibition, curated by Giuliana Altea, Antonella Camarda, Luca Cheri, and Caterina Ghisu, includes 71 pieces created between 1950 and 1997, drawn from multiple collections. Notable works on display are 'La lezione sessuale' (1962) and 'Trittico delle Nascite' (1965). After studying at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, Mandiargues relocated to Paris in 1947 and wed André Pieyre de Mandiargues in 1950. Her art delves into themes of alchemy and transformation, establishing her as a distinctive voice in surrealism.
Key facts
- First major retrospective of Bona de Mandiargues at Museo Nivola, Orani, Sardinia.
- Exhibition titled 'Bona de Mandiargues. Rifare il mondo'.
- 71 works from 1950 to 1997 on display.
- Curated by Giuliana Altea, Antonella Camarda, Luca Cheri, Caterina Ghisu.
- Works from artist's estate, Fondazione Intesa San Paolo, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna di Roma, Gallerie d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Ferrara.
- Museo Nivola is housed in a former washhouse and named after Costantino Nivola.
- Bona de Mandiargues was born in Rome in 1926, died in Paris in 2000.
- She studied at Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia and moved to Paris in 1947.
- Married André Pieyre de Mandiargues in 1950.
- Connected with surrealists: André Breton, Max Ernst, Dorothea Tanning, Meret Oppenheim, Man Ray, Hans Bellmer, Leonor Fini, Henri Michaux.
- Key works include 'Vague à l'âme' (1958), 'La lezione sessuale' (1962), 'Trittico delle Nascite' (1965), 'La Diana cacciatrice e cacciata' (1968), 'Omaggio a Unica Zürn' (1980).
- Her work features alchemy, metamorphosis, animal totemism, and the snail as a self-symbol.
- She rejected surrealist roles of woman-muse and woman-child.
- Influenced by uncle Filippo de Pisis, and later by de Chirico, Savinio, Magritte.
Entities
Artists
- Bona de Mandiargues
- Bona Tibertelli
- Costantino Nivola
- Filippo de Pisis
- André Breton
- Max Ernst
- Dorothea Tanning
- Meret Oppenheim
- Man Ray
- Hans Bellmer
- Leonor Fini
- Henri Michaux
- André Pieyre de Mandiargues
- Giuliana Altea
- Antonella Camarda
- Luca Cheri
- Caterina Ghisu
- Ruth Guggenheim
- Giuseppe Ungaretti
- Italo Calvino
- Francis Ponge
- Jean Dubuffet
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Alberto Savinio
- René Magritte
- Unica Zürn
Institutions
- Museo Nivola
- Fondazione Intesa San Paolo
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna di Roma
- Gallerie d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Ferrara
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia
- Artribune
Locations
- Orani
- Sardinia
- Italy
- Rome
- Paris
- France
- Upper Egypt
- Mexico
- Venice