Jacopo Benassi's FBI Foundation Opens in a Toilet in La Spezia
In La Spezia, artist Jacopo Benassi, together with Antonio Grulli, Francesca Calvaresi, Diego Bergamaschi, and Federico Pepe, established the FBI – Fondazione Benassi Iacopo in his studio's restroom. This tall and narrow space showcases Benassi's artwork alongside monochrome photographs and playful signs. The foundation's mission is to challenge the overly polished nature of contemporary art, a sentiment echoed by Grulli, who cites conductor Currentzis's perspective on classical music. A special section features Andrea Renzini's "PFIZER Apollinaires," illustrating a sexual moment intertwined with the Pfizer logo and marker sounds. The restroom environment aims to restore a sense of intimacy and creativity in art, with Grulli remarking, "Art is like love... in the toilets of clubs."
Key facts
- FBI – Fondazione Benassi Iacopo opens in the bathroom of Jacopo Benassi's studio in La Spezia.
- Founders include Jacopo Benassi, Antonio Grulli, Francesca Calvaresi, Diego Bergamaschi, and Federico Pepe.
- The bathroom is the only room in the studio where Benassi's works are displayed.
- Walls feature black-and-white photographs and handwritten signs mimicking museum instructions.
- The foundation critiques the sanitized presentation of art in traditional foundations.
- Andrea Renzini's work 'PFIZER Apollinaires' is exhibited, depicting a sexual scene above a Pfizer logo.
- Renzini's work references an 18th-century drawing by Peter Fendi and uses silk fabric and a red garter.
- The work is accompanied by music made from recording markers squeaking.
Entities
Artists
- Jacopo Benassi
- Antonio Grulli
- Francesca Calvaresi
- Diego Bergamaschi
- Federico Pepe
- Andrea Renzini
- Peter Fendi
Institutions
- FBI – Fondazione Benassi Iacopo
- Pfizer
- Artribune
Locations
- La Spezia
- Italy