Cattelani Family Collection Showcases Sacred and Contemporary Art in Restored Castle

The exhibition 'Intra moenia' at the Castello di Soliera in Modena presents the modern and contemporary sacred art collection of Carlo Cattelani and his five children: Fabio, Laura, Tiberio, Annalisa, and Annarita. Organized by the Comune di Soliera, Fondazione Campori, and Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Carpi, the show is curated by Lorenzo Respi. It traces the origins of the collection from Carlo Cattelani, a former sharecropper who developed a passion for art and acquired works by Italian masters such as Burri, De Dominicis, and Fontana, as well as international artists like Beuys, Nam June Paik, Vostell, and Nitsch. The collection includes a commissioned piece by Wolf Vostell titled 'Occhio per occhio' (1991), featuring a wooden Christ with a closed-circuit camera inserted into its side, and a work by Yoko Ono with Japanese ideograms celebrating love. The exhibition is divided into thematic rooms, including a children's area with multimedia content, and ends with Ben Vautier's question 'What is art?'. A portion of the works will rotate every two weeks in the church of San Pietro in Vincoli in Limidi di Soliera, according to the liturgical calendar. The idea originated from the parish priest of that church, who requested artworks to replace altarpieces, leading to the involvement of the mayor of Soliera. The Cattelani family emphasizes the ethical and educational role of art, reflecting Carlo's legacy of openness and social engagement.