Sylvain Bellenger outlines future of Capodimonte's contemporary art

Sylvain Bellenger, French art historian and director of the Museo di Capodimonte for less than a year, details plans to revitalize the museum's contemporary art collection. The initiative stems from a desire to showcase works by living but historically recognized artists, many of which engage with Capodimonte's ancient collections and the surrounding city and territory. Bellenger also highlights the role of Neapolitan collectors like Lucio Amelio and Graziella Lonardi Buontempo in building the collection. A Cy Twombly work will be added as a temporary loan, aiming to encourage further long-term loans. The museum has undergone a double restyling of both spaces and artworks, including conservation treatments on pieces by Alberto Burri, Giulio Paolini, Luigi Mainolfi, Mario Merz, Daniel Buren, and Sol LeWitt, overseen by Marina Santucci and executed by internal and external restorers. The contemporary collection will be open from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM, with extended Thursday hours until 10:30 PM and €1 entry after 7:30 PM. A shuttle service from the city center began in April, and a partnership with Costa Crociere offers cruise passengers two visit options: the museum (among Italy's top three picture galleries) and the UNESCO-listed bosco (forest) spanning nearly 140 hectares with unique botanical species. Bellenger hopes temporary exhibitions will improve public awareness of the permanent collection, which is often mistakenly thought to consist only of porcelain.