Umberto Benappi Opens Mountain Gallery in Val di Susa with 'BESTIALE' Exhibition

Umberto Benappi, a young Turin gallerist, has opened a new 'mountain gallery' in Sansicario, Val di Susa, near the French border. The space, created with creative support from Riccardo Pietrantonio, aims to host projects in collaboration with Italian and international galleries and bring culture to remote areas. The inaugural exhibition, 'BESTIALE', runs until April 28, 2024, and is curated in collaboration with Gian Enzo Sperone. The show features works by Roy Kortick, Alexis Rockman, Bertozzi&Casoni, and Paolo Maione, exploring themes of fantastic animals, beasts, and societal decay. Benappi envisions the gallery as a dynamic incubator for projects and collaborations, not a static space. Future plans include a project room with Galleria Niccoli of Parma and Lunetta 11, as well as collaborations with local mayors to position the area as a cultural destination, with ideas like open-air art paths and sound festivals in disused military forts.