Pep Marchegiani's 'Toys' at Bugno Art Gallery, Venice
Pep Marchegiani's exhibition 'Toys' at Bugno Art Gallery in Venice uses reflective steel surfaces to critique contemporary society. The artist, born in Atri in 1971, employs mirror-polished steel sheets that replicate the Adriatic Sea where he grew up, forcing viewers to confront their own image and, by extension, societal weaknesses. The show specifically addresses the loss of childhood freedom and play, drawing a parallel with Michelangelo Pistoletto's concept of 'squalor of things without art' from his 1985 'Poetica dura'. Marchegiani's work is characterized by direct, provocative messages that blend irony with harsh social commentary, aiming to disturb rather than comfort. The exhibition was held in 2018 at the Bugno Art Gallery in Venice.
Key facts
- Pep Marchegiani was born in Atri in 1971.
- The exhibition 'Toys' was held at Bugno Art Gallery in Venice in 2018.
- The works use large mirror-polished steel sheets.
- The steel sheets reflect the Adriatic Sea where Marchegiani grew up.
- The exhibition critiques the loss of childhood freedom and play.
- Marchegiani's work references Michelangelo Pistoletto's 'Poetica dura' from 1985.
- The artist's messages are direct and provocative, blending irony with social critique.
- The reflective surfaces force viewers to confront their own weaknesses.
Entities
Artists
- Pep Marchegiani
- Michelangelo Pistoletto
Institutions
- Bugno Art Gallery
- Artribune
Locations
- Atri
- Italy
- Venice
- Adriatic Sea