Palazzo Maffei in Verona expands with new galleries and a smart flower by Daan Roosegaarde

Palazzo Maffei in Verona has opened seven new galleries on its second floor, expanding the museum's unconventional exhibition space. The collection, assembled by Luigi Carlon, features works spanning antiquity to contemporary art. A highlight is the "Lotus Maffei," an intelligent flower sculpture by Daan Roosegaarde that opens in response to human presence. The new rooms were curated by Gabriella Belli, who designed them to encourage meditation and reflection through juxtapositions of works from different eras. Notable spaces include the "Antiquarium," which pairs ancient artifacts with Giorgio de Chirico's "Gladiators" and a "Testimone" by Mimmo Paladino, and the "Sulla metamorfosi del paesaggio e la 'bella natura'" room, where Chiara Dynis's contemporary interventions overlay existing frescoes with Goethe aphorisms. A room titled "Sul perimetro del mondo e i suoi limiti" features an installation of empty frames. Carlon's collection emphasizes Italian minimalist movements from the late 1950s, with works by Lucio Fontana, Fausto Melotti, Alberto Burri, Piero Manzoni, and Carla Accardi displayed throughout. The museum challenges traditional museum conventions, offering a journey across arts and epochs.