Ettore Spalletti's Monochrome Environments at Nouveau Musée National de Monaco

The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco-Villa Paloma presents 'Ombre d’azur, transparence', a solo exhibition of Italian minimalist painter Ettore Spalletti, curated by Cristiano Raimondi, from April 18 to November 3, 2019. Spalletti, who initially hesitated, was drawn to the venue's vast white terrace overlooking the Mediterranean, which resonates with his signature palette of infinite blue nuances inspired by his childhood in Cappelle sul Tavol, Abruzzo. The exhibition features monochromatic panels, columns, and furniture-like geometric forms coated in pastel blues, yellows, and pinks, achieved through layered impasto and abrasion. The works engage with natural light streaming through windows, creating a dialogue between the Monaco coastline and the artist's native Pescara landscape. A documentary by Alessandra Galletta, included in the show, captures Spalletti's tactile approach, describing his surfaces as inviting 'the caress of a hand on a cheek'. The installation evokes both familiarity and unreality, transitioning viewers from simple joy to solemnity. Spalletti has previously transformed two contemplative spaces: the Salle des départs at Hôpital Poincaré in Garches and the chapel of Villa Serena in Città Sant'Angelo.