Lucio Fontana's Spatial Environments Reconstructed in Milan Retrospective

Pirelli Hangar Bicocca in Milan presents a retrospective of Lucio Fontana's spatial environments from September 21 to February 25. Curated by Marina Pugliese, Barbara Ferriani, and Vicente Todolí, the exhibition reconstructs nine immersive installations in 1:1 scale using original materials like neon, UV lights, and metallic wallpaper. Five of these environments are shown for the first time since Fontana's death. The chronological display spans from 1948 to 1968, featuring works such as the 1949 Spatial Environment in Black Light and the 1961 Energy Sources neon ceiling. Fontana's 1947 Spatialist Manifesto called for art to embrace science and technology, leading to his Spatial Concepts series with holes and cuts. His collaborative work with architect Nanda Vigo on Spatial Environment 'Utopias' (1964) is included. The exhibition highlights Fontana's pioneering role in environmental art, predating artists like Dan Flavin and Allan Kaprow. It reframes art history by emphasizing polycentric narratives beyond US modernism. The dimly lit venue preserves perceptual effects, with only two brightly luminous installations: the 1951 Neon Structure for the 9th Milan Triennale and the 1961 Energy Sources piece. This rigorous philological project expands art chronologies and redefines lineages, moving beyond evolutionary modernism.