Maurizio Cattelan's record-breaking first solo show in China at UCCA Beijing
Maurizio Cattelan's first solo exhibition in China, 'The Last Judgment,' opened on November 19, 2021, at UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, attracting 4,500 visitors in its first weekend with queues over two hours long. Curated by Francesco Bonami, the show features 29 iconic works spanning thirty years, including 'Comedian' (2019), 'Novecento' (1997), and a miniature replica of the Sistine Chapel. Bonami provocatively called Cattelan an heir to Michelangelo and more famous than Caravaggio. The exhibition includes site-specific installations like 'Zhang San' (2021), a sculpture of a homeless Beijing man, and a performance where a mascot of Picasso welcomed visitors. The show runs until February 20, 2022.
Key facts
- Maurizio Cattelan's first solo exhibition in China, titled 'The Last Judgment,' opened on November 19, 2021, at UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing.
- The exhibition attracted 4,500 visitors in its first weekend, with queues over two hours long.
- Curator Francesco Bonami provoked the Chinese audience by calling Cattelan an heir to Michelangelo and more famous than Caravaggio.
- The show features 29 works from the last thirty years, including 'Comedian' (2019), 'Novecento' (1997), and a miniature replica of the Sistine Chapel.
- A site-specific installation 'Zhang San' (2021) depicts a homeless Beijing man lying on the ground covered in rags and pigeons.
- A performance featured a mascot with a giant head dressed as Picasso, referencing Cattelan's 1998 MoMA performance.
- The exhibition runs until February 20, 2022.
- Cattelan did not attend the opening.
Entities
Artists
- Maurizio Cattelan
- Francesco Bonami
- Michelangelo
- Caravaggio
- Picasso
- Marina Abramović
Institutions
- UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
- Guggenheim Museum
- MoMA
- Yuz Museum
Locations
- Beijing
- China
- Padua
- New York
- Aranya
- Shanghai
- Padova