Ugo Ugo's Overlooked Collection Gets a Digital Spotlight
The Montecristo Project, overseen by Enrico Piras and Alessandro Sau, presents 'Ugo Ugo: the artist as director' to reevaluate the contributions of Sardinian artist Ugo Ugo (1924– ). Ugo led the Galleria Comunale di Cagliari from 1967 to 1985 and curated a contemporary art collection that debuted on March 3, 1975, showcasing around 100 works from over 80 artists. While he received acclaim nationally, local institutions opposed it, perceiving it as cultural imperialism. Intellectuals such as Gillo Dorfles and Aldo Passoni supported him. Although the collection featured interactive pieces, some have been lost or damaged during restoration. Following Ugo's tenure, the collection was disbanded and succeeded by the Ingrao Collection. The initiative seeks to establish a permanent location for Ugo's collection.
Key facts
- Ugo Ugo was director of Galleria Comunale di Cagliari from 1967 to 1985.
- The collection was inaugurated on March 3, 1975.
- It includes over 80 artists and about 100 works.
- Works were acquired under the two-percent law at equal political prices.
- Local institutions and public opinion opposed the collection.
- Corriere della Sera previewed it as 'one of the most stimulating museums in Italy'.
- Supporters included Gillo Dorfles, Corrado Maltese, Marisa Volpi Orlandini, Salvatore Naitza, Aldo Passoni, and Vittorio Fagone.
- Some works are lost, including Colombo's 'Spazio elastico' and Boriani and de Vecchi's 'Ambiente Cronostatico'.
- The collection was dismantled after Ugo's directorship ended in 1985.
- Restorations have damaged works by Griffa, Casula, and Castellani.
Entities
Artists
- Ugo Ugo
- Enrico Castellani
- Giorgio Griffa
- Agostino Bonalumi
- Giulio Paolini
- Mimmo Rotella
- Ugo Nespolo
- Piero Fogliati
- Gianni Colombo
- Vincenzo Agneti
- Ermanno Leinardi
- Rosanna Rossi
- Giovanni Campus
- Gaetano Brundu
- Primo Pantoli
- Tonino Casula
- Igino Panzino
- Mauro Staccioli
- Michelangelo Pistoletto
- Enrico Corte
- Andrea Nurcis
- Gillo Dorfles
- Corrado Maltese
- Marisa Volpi Orlandini
- Salvatore Naitza
- Aldo Passoni
- Vittorio Fagone
- Roberta Vanali
Institutions
- Galleria Comunale di Cagliari
- Montecristo Project
- Università di Cagliari
- Corriere della Sera
- Comune di Cagliari
- Artribune
Locations
- Cagliari
- Italy
- Sardinia
- Turin