Evgeny Antufiev at Palermo's Museo Salinas for Manifesta 12

The Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonino Salinas in Palermo and Collezione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia present a solo exhibition by Russian artist Evgeny Antufiev (b. 1986, Kyzyl) as part of Manifesta 12. Titled "Quando l'arte diventa parte del paesaggio. Capitolo I," the show is curated by Giusi Diana and coordinated by Marina Dacci. It occupies the museum's newly renovated spaces around two cloisters, including the recently inaugurated Agorà (May 2018), a large courtyard covered by a transparent vault that had been closed since the late 19th century. The restoration, designed by Stefano Biondo with €9 million in EU funds, removed late-19th-century additions and revealed the former convent of the Oratorio San Filippo Neri, built in 1958 by Antonio Muttone. The museum reopened in 2016 after five years of closure. Antufiev's sculptures—inspired by classical forms but infused with contemporary anxiety—are displayed alongside ancient artifacts such as the pediment of Temple C at Selinunte, lion-head waterspouts from Himera, and jewelry from Tindari. His work explores archaeological forgery, using materials like bronze and ceramics, and includes ironic touches like an emoticon on a bronze mask. The artist previously showed with Collezione Maramotti in Italy in 2013 and at Manifesta 2016 in Zurich.