Italy's Right-Wing Government Uses Art to Reclaim Fascist-Era Imagery
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the Italian government is utilizing cultural institutions to revive Fascist aesthetics. Gennaro Sangiuliano, the former Minister, advocates for a conservative cultural agenda rooted in early 20th-century traditions. In 2025, Rome's Palazzo delle Esposizioni will recreate the 1935 Second Quadriennale d'Arte Nazionale, which honored Futurism and Mussolini. The president of the Quadriennale, Luca Beatrice, described the 1935 exhibition as 'meravigliosa.' Additionally, the Maxxi museum is set to initiate a digital project in collaboration with Gabriele D'Annunzio's estate, supported by Vittoriale president Giordano Bruno Guerri. A Futurism exhibition will be featured at the Galleria Nazionale di Roma from December 3 to February 28. Critics contend that these efforts seek to redefine national values, countering the cultural legacies of the 1960s and 1970s.
Key facts
- The Second Quadriennale d'Arte Nazionale of 1935 will be reconstructed at Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome in 2025.
- Former Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano advocated for conservative cultural values focusing on early 20th-century Fascist-era history.
- The 1935 Quadriennale featured Futurist works celebrated by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and portraits of Mussolini.
- Current Quadriennale president Luca Beatrice called the 1935 exhibition 'meravigliosa' and said it would have gone unnoticed in a different political context.
- The Maxxi museum and Il Vittoriale degli Italiani have announced a digital twinning project using VR technology.
- Vittoriale president Giordano Bruno Guerri stated 'D'Annunzio is everywhere' in defense of the partnership.
- The Galleria Nazionale di Roma will host a major Futurism exhibition from December 3 to February 28.
- Critics see these initiatives as an attempt to replace the cultural legacy of the 1960s and 1970s with Fascist-era values.
- The article notes that even young neo-fascists are more likely to listen to John Lennon's 'Imagine' than period songs.
Entities
Artists
- Filippo Tommaso Marinetti
- Gherardo Dottori
- Cesare Breviglieri
- Leonello Balestrieri
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Gino Severini
- Carlo Carrà
- Antonio Donghi
- Renato Guttuso
- Alberto Bevilacqua
- Gabriele D'Annunzio
- Francesco Paolo Michetti
- Giulio Base
- Elon Musk
- John Lennon
Institutions
- Palazzo delle Esposizioni
- Quadriennale d'Arte Nazionale
- Maxxi (Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo)
- Il Vittoriale degli Italiani
- Galleria Nazionale di Roma
- Ministero della Cultura
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Gardone Riviera
- Flaminio district
- Fiume