Nature as a Contested Concept at Collezione Olgiati, Lugano

The Collezione Olgiati in Lugano presents 'Nature is what we see', a spring 2019 exhibition exploring the theme of nature through contemporary art. The show juxtaposes a permanent collection spanning Nouveau réalisme to contemporary stars with temporary thematic displays featuring new acquisitions and loans. Curated around a quote by Emily Dickinson, the exhibition argues that nature is a relative, mediated concept in the postmodern era, impossible to trace back to a mythical origin. Works include Ugo Rondinone's artificial colored rocks, Harold Ancart's iceberg painting, Markus Lüpertz's pseudo-arcadian rocks, and Gunther Förg's stylized vegetation updating abstract tradition for the digital age. The show also features pieces by Tauba Auerbach, Enrico David, Roberto Cuoghi, Nairy Baghramian, Roni Horn (with minimal sculptures quoting Dickinson and aquatic photographs), Markus Raetz, and Christopher Wool. The installation creates non-didactic dialogues between works, starting with Remo Salvadori's 'Alfabeti' alluding to alchemical transformation. The exhibition runs through spring 2019.