Sgarbi's Vulgar Title Scuttles Mapplethorpe-De Pisis Show in Ferrara

A planned dialogue exhibition between photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and painter Filippo De Pisis at Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara has been canceled after the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation withdrew its works. The foundation, led by director Joree Adilman, objected to the proposed title "Fiori e cazzi" (Flowers and Dicks), suggested by Vittorio Sgarbi, President of Ferrara Arte and Undersecretary of Culture. Sgarbi claimed the title was inspired by Mapplethorpe's own quote, "I look for perfection in form, I do it with portraits, I do it with dicks, I do it with flowers." The exhibition was to open March 23, 2024. The City of Ferrara later proposed an alternative title, "Filippo de Pisis e Robert Mapplethorpe, tra grazia e dannazione," but the foundation remained "extremely troubled" and refused to proceed. The incident echoes a previous controversy involving Sgarbi and musician Morgan at MAXXI Rome. Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano told Il Fatto Quotidiano, "I didn't want Sgarbi. I try to keep him at a distance and remedy his troubles."