MAXXI Bvlgari Prize 2020 finalists exhibition opens in Rome

The MAXXI Bvlgari Prize 2020 finalists—Giulia Cenci (Cortona, 1988), Tomaso De Luca (Verona, 1988), and Renato Leotta (Torino, 1982)—are now showing site-specific works across the entire third floor of the MAXXI museum in Rome. The prize, a partnership between MAXXI and Bvlgari supporting young artists, selected the trio through an international jury: Hou Hanru (MAXXI artistic director), Bartolomeo Pietromarchi (MAXXI Arte director), Manuel Borja-Villel (Museo Reina Sofía director), Emma Lavigne (Palais de Tokyo president), and Victoria Noorthoorn (Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires director). Curated by Giulia Ferracci, the exhibition occupies Galleria 5 overlooking Piazza Alighiero Boetti. Cenci's installation "lento-violento" features hybrid figures suspended in grey tones, evoking conflict between species. De Luca's "A Week's Notice" uses three-channel video and sound showing miniature houses flying and collapsing, addressing gentrification following the AIDS crisis of the 1980s-90s. Leotta's "Roma e Fiumi" presents twelve 16mm films along the glass wall, capturing Roman monuments and stray cats. The jury will announce the winner by the exhibition's end on March 7, 2021; the winning work enters the MAXXI permanent collection. MAXXI president Giovanna Melandri stated the prize celebrates the museum's 10th anniversary and supports young Italian creativity.