Diego Bergamaschi: A Collector's Journey from Conceptual to Material

Since 2007, Diego Bergamaschi, the vice president of Amici della GAMeC, has been a passionate collector, amassing over 100 pieces motivated more by intellectual engagement than by visual appeal. His collection started with photographs by Luigi Ghirri and has since grown to include works from international artists like Ryan Gander and Rirkrit Tiravanija. Recent additions feature a bronze grid from Jonathan Monk and a logo file by Gintaras Didžiapetris. Currently, Bergamaschi is concentrating on 'new materialism,' collecting works from artists such as Michael E. Smith and Giulia Cenci. Although he is exploring South American and African art, he has yet to acquire any. At the 2017 Venice Biennale, he found inspiration in the works of Petrit Halilaj, Roberto Cuoghi, and Anne Imhof. He observes a division in the market between affluent international collections and understated European collections curated by young, informed collectors.