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Francesco Candeloro's plexiglass sculptures dialogue with ancient Farnese Collection at MANN

exhibition · 2026-05-05

Francesco Candeloro, born in Venice in 1974, showcases 'Città delle Città' at the MANN – Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples. This exhibition features four sculptures made of cut and UV-printed plexiglass in the atrium, inspired by Kassel, Naples, Castel del Monte, and Seoul. Candeloro's artwork harmonizes with the museum's collection, where the Farnese Collection of ancient sculptures engages with modern creations, illuminated by fresh lighting angles. The 'Occhi' series connects different spaces through colored plexiglass cubes that portray faces. 'Passaggi Alterni (New York)' juxtaposes the Farnese Hercules with a New York skyline, while 'Linee del Tempo' surrounds the Farnese Bull in neon against a mirrored Beirut skyline. 'Nella Luce del Tempo' uses laser-cut plexiglass to illuminate and reflect on the relevance of ancient art today.

Key facts

  • Francesco Candeloro (born 1974 in Venice) created 'Città delle Città' at MANN.
  • Four cut and UV-printed plexiglass sculptures in the atrium recall Kassel, Naples, Castel del Monte, and Seoul.
  • The Farnese Collection of ancient sculptures on the ground floor interacts with Candeloro's contemporary works.
  • The 'Occhi' series features colored plexiglass cubes with aerograph-printed faces whose eyes engage with ancient statues.
  • 'Passaggi Alterni (New York)' places the Farnese Hercules against a New York skyline that shifts with light.
  • 'Linee del Tempo' encloses the Farnese Bull in a neon installation with a quadrupled Beirut skyline.
  • 'Nella Luce del Tempo' casts green and blue light in the Sala dei Tirannicidi via a laser-cut plexiglass window.
  • The exhibition argues that ancient art was once contemporary, a fact Candeloro's work emphasizes.

Entities

Artists

  • Francesco Candeloro
  • Giovanna Procaccini

Institutions

  • MANN – Museo Archeologico Nazionale
  • Artribune
  • Farnese Collection

Locations

  • Naples
  • Italy
  • Venice
  • Kassel
  • Castel del Monte
  • Seoul
  • New York
  • Beirut

Sources