Ugo La Pietra's installations at Accademia Carrara celebrate Italian craftsmanship

Ugo La Pietra, born in Bussi sul Tirino in 1938, has created a series of installations at the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo that emphasize the importance of artisanal skill and material beauty. His works engage in dialogue with historical masterpieces, such as Jacopo di Antonello's 1480 'Madonna with Child.' One installation, 'Segnali naturali 2019,' features a ceramic column with a glazed tone matching the Madonna's mantle and a blown-glass reproduction of the glass container held by the Madonna, complete with cherries identical to those in the painting. This piece celebrates Italian craftsmanship and is also available as a limited edition at the museum shop. Another work, 'Ultima cena,' consists of twelve hand-engraved ceramic plates and twelve painted glass test tubes on a wooden easel, referencing canonical compositions. 'Libri aperti. Inferno, Purgatorio e Paradiso' and 'Libri aperti 2004/2008' focus on the book motif, inspired by the many depictions of Saint Jerome in the museum. The exhibition runs until November 24, with a parallel film program at GAMeC exploring La Pietra's research on dwelling.