Futurism exhibition at GNAMC accused of political manipulation and historical distortion
Art historian Giancarlo Carpi has voiced his disapproval of the exhibition "Il Tempo del Futurismo" at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GNAMC) in Rome, alleging that the Meloni government is leveraging it for political ends. Curated by Gabriele Simongini and Renata Cristina Mazzantini, Carpi contends that the exhibition misrepresents Futurism by substituting artworks with outdated technology to advance a techno-scientific agenda. He points out the omission of significant works, the decontextualization of pieces, and the distortion of the movement's radical principles. Additionally, Carpi criticizes the exhibition for its manipulative elements, including the portrayal of Marconi and Maserati, the suppression of manifestos, and the exclusion of artists like Vinicio Paladini, calling it a "pseudohistorical" endeavor that sanitizes Futurism's anti-bourgeois message.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Il Tempo del Futurismo' at GNAMC in Rome curated by Gabriele Simongini and Renata Cristina Mazzantini.
- Art historian Giancarlo Carpi, former member of the scientific committee, accuses the show of political manipulation.
- Carpi claims the exhibition replaces artworks with vintage technology (Fiat 1913, Maserati 1934, gramophones) to promote a techno-scientific narrative.
- Key works excluded: photographs by Muybridge and Marey, drawings, and works by Vinicio Paladini.
- Carpi alleges censorship of manifestos, including the 1915 manifesto's call for war toys.
- Portrait of Marconi (1939) and Maserati (1934) placed in the heroic Futurist salon to imply Fascist-era connections.
- Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli framed Futurism as precursor to contemporary tech-science and Made in Italy.
- Carpi describes the show as 'pseudohistorical' and oriented toward the electorate of the far-right FdI party.
Entities
Artists
- Giancarlo Carpi
- Gabriele Simongini
- Renata Cristina Mazzantini
- Giacomo Balla
- Umberto Boccioni
- Fortunato Depero
- Gino Severini
- Luigi Russolo
- Antonio Sant'Elia
- Eadweard Muybridge
- Etienne Jules Marey
- Anton Giulio Bragaglia
- Gaetano Previati
- Alessandro Bruschetti
- Vinicio Paladini
- Enrico Prampolini
- Gerardo Dottori
- Tato (Guglielmo Sansoni)
- Benedetta Cappa
- Fillia (Luigi Colombo)
- Thayaht (Ernesto Michahelles)
- Mino Delle Site
- Andrea Pazienza
- Pietro Cascella
- Mario Merz
- Giuseppe Capogrossi
- Alberto Burri
- Piero Dorazio
- Jean Tinguely
- Mario Ceroli
- Pino Pascali
- Titina Maselli
- Leonetto Cappiello
- Romolo Romani
- Primo Conti
- Francesco Cangiullo
- Leonardo Clerici
- Massimo Osanna
- Alessandro Giuli
Institutions
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GNAMC)
- Ministero della Cultura (MiC)
- Fratelli d'Italia (FdI)
- Mart (Museo di arte moderna e contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto)
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Guggenheim Museum
- Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
- New York Times
- Artribune
- Rai Tg24
- Olivetti
- Maserati
- Fiat
- Autosole
- Quadriennale di Roma
- Biennale di Venezia
- Fondazione Primo Conti
- Archivio Depero
- Galleria Russo
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Lugano
- Switzerland
- New York
- United States
- Paris
- France
- Taiti
- Centro-Africa
- Como
- Turin
- Milan
- Capri