Fondazione Prada's Recycling Beauty Exhibition Critiques Didactic Curation as Aesthetic Fetish
The exhibition "Recycling Beauty" at Fondazione Prada in Milan presents classical artifacts through an educational framework designed by Rem Koolhaas/OMA, with contributions from art historian Salvatore Settis. It features Greek and Roman sculptures, such as a Minerva statue from the Louvre, which originally had an onyx torso from the Hadrianic period and underwent modifications in the 1630s and 1766. Another significant piece is the Lion Attacking a Horse from Rome's Musei Capitolini. The latter part of the exhibit includes a renovated cistern housing an 11-meter Colossus of Constantine. Concurrently, Fondazione Luigi Rovati showcases Etruscan artifacts alongside Andy Warhol's 1985 work, The Etruscan Scene, linking these to cultural movements like Gucci's jewelry collection and Johann Winckelmann's 1764 History of Ancient Art.
Key facts
- Recycling Beauty exhibition at Fondazione Prada features classical artifacts displayed on office furniture
- Exhibition design by Rem Koolhaas/OMA emphasizes pedagogical approach with information panels
- Salvatore Settis contributed to curation of the exhibition
- Minerva sculpture from Louvre shows multiple historical modifications across centuries
- Lion Attacking a Horse from Musei Capitolini historically used in executions now displayed at floor level
- Fondazione Luigi Rovati displays Etruscan artifacts alongside Andy Warhol's 1985 work in building redesigned by Mario Cucinella
- Gucci's Hortus Deliciarum jewelry collection incorporates historical micro-mosaics shown at Villa Albani-Torlonia
- Johann Winckelmann wrote History of Ancient Art in 1764 while at Villa Albani, influencing didactic approaches
Entities
Artists
- Rem Koolhaas
- Salvatore Settis
- Andy Warhol
- Alessandro Michele
- Johann Winckelmann
- Mario Cucinella
Institutions
- Fondazione Prada
- Fondazione Luigi Rovati
- Louvre
- Musei Capitolini
- Gucci
- Vogue
- Villa Albani-Torlonia
- OMA
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Rome
- France