Piranesi's Modernity Explored in Oslo Exhibition

The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo, which opened on June 11, 2022, is hosting a major exhibition of Giovanni Battista Piranesi from September 8, 2022 to January 8, 2023. The show includes works from the museum's permanent collection as well as loans from other Italian and European institutions. It aims to highlight Piranesi's forward-thinking spatial and perspectival concepts, which anticipated future architectural developments by two centuries. Piranesi was a multifaceted artist—engraver, archaeologist, writer, vedutista, and architect—whose imaginary buildings display striking modern lines and proportions, influencing 20th-century architects like Sergei Tchoban. His work helped define modernity across various creative fields. To underscore this, the exhibition juxtaposes Piranesi's pieces with works by contemporary artists and architects such as Julie Mehretu and Rem Koolhaas, and includes film stills from Metropolis and Star Wars. The museum, dedicated to Norwegian identity while engaging with international cultures, has previously hosted temporary exhibitions of foreign artists like Louise Bourgeois, Mark Rothko, and Frida Kahlo.