Wolfgang Laib's bee wax ziggurat enters Villa Panza collection

A large-scale installation by German artist Wolfgang Laib has been acquired by FAI for Villa Panza in Varese. The work, titled 'Untitled', is a bee wax ziggurat surrounded by geometric rice piles, occupying most of the Second Carriage House. It was created for Laib's solo exhibition 'Passageway' (curated by Anna Bernardini, opened late 2023) as part of the centenary celebrations of Giuseppe Panza di Biumo, with whom Laib had a close friendship. The piece draws on Mesopotamian architecture and Eastern philosophy, embodying a reconciliatory ascent. FAI president Marco Magnifico personally advocated for the acquisition, noting Laib's work addresses existential silence. Laib, born in Metzingen in 1950, studied medicine before turning to art, using natural materials like milk, pollen, rice, and bee wax. He met Panza in 1978 at his second exhibition at Salvatore Ala in Milan. Laib emphasizes the spiritual and sensory dimensions of his work, rejecting the distinction between art and life. He collects pollen himself over weeks, and his practice is influenced by Laozi, Indian culture, and Rumi. The acquisition concludes the 'natura e forma' exhibition cycle at Villa Panza.