Giacomo Balla's Futurist Cabaret Murals Rediscovered in Rome

During renovation works at Villa Hüffer on Via Nazionale in Rome, intended to create a museum space for the Bank of Italy's Center for Monetary and Financial Education, portions of Giacomo Balla's mural decorations for the Bal Tic Tac, the first Futurist cabaret inaugurated in 1921, were uncovered. The discovery, made under the supervision of the Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma led by Francesco Prosperetti, revealed 80 square meters of parietal paintings entirely by Balla. Restoration is ongoing, after which the murals will be accessible to the public. The cabaret, described by Balla's daughter Elica, featured vibrant colors and dynamic forms. The find is considered miraculous given the building's numerous renovations over the decades. The article also draws parallels to the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich, founded in 1916 by Hugo Ball and Emmy Hennings, which faced financial crises and was put up for sale in 2016.