Mario Schifano's 7-meter dance canvas goes on sale in Rome

Mario Schifano's monumental circular painting 'Il cosmo e gli elementi', created in 1991 as a stage set for the dance-theatre piece 'Due Madri' by Miguel de Unamuno, is being put up for sale by its owner Aurelio Gatti. The 7-meter-diameter mixed-media work, designed to be danced upon, will be exhibited on October 14 and 15, 2020 at the Teatro Basilica in Rome, where it will also be used for performances. Schifano, a key figure in Italian Pop art, collaborated with director Patrick Latronica and the MDA Danza company, including soprano Annette Meriweather and dancers Bob Curtis, Gianna Beduschi, Gioia Guida, and Massimo D'Orazio. The painting features a spiral of colors representing the cosmos and primordial forces, with golden footprints of the dancers embedded on its perimeter. Despite over 100 performances, the canvas remains intact. During the exhibition, two dance shows will take place: 'Infiniti Mondi' by Mario Brancaccio at 5 PM and 'Confine' by Luna Marongiu at 7 PM, featuring dancers Paola Saribas and Matteo Gentiluomo.