The “Musei Reali” of Turin are the hosts of the exhibition “In Between” by Fabio Viale until 9th of January 2022. The Torinese sculptor is one of the most famous Italian artists on the international modern scene. The exhibition, curated by Filippo Masino and Roberto Mastroianni, is realized in collaboration with the Poggiali Gallery in Florence and made possible by the technical partnership with Strategica Group.
Known for his virtuosic techniques in modelling the marble of Carrara, Viale presents the relationship between the masterpieces of classic art whose shapes blend with the impactful and visceral force of contemporary tattoos to represent current issues, through 10 of his masterworks (during the three fases of the exhibition, 19 works will be exposed).
“Love and Psych (Amore e Psiche)” is the work placed in the Salon of the Swiss Guards which replicates Canovas’ neoclassical masterpiece, distorting the image through tattooing the female body with motives of Middle Eastern brides, reflecting on the condition of women in the current geopolitical context. "Amore e Psiche” (Cupid and Psyche) is a sculpture that I started working on several months ago, for which I had imagined wonderful Japanese tattoos - says the artist Fabio Viale - But in light of recent events in Afghanistan, I felt that my project had to radically change, and try to build a cultural bridge between the West and the Middle East instead, giving voice to the women not only of that country but of many parts of the world. From my point of view, this work represents a great novelty, because it allows me, through sculpture, to open a window on aspects of the current situation."
In the Sindonce Chapel, the Pieta Souvenir (Cristo) from 2006 tells the story in a potent way through one of the most important and mysterious icons in Christianity. In the Armeria Reale, the original work Lorice is an invention of an antic armor in rose marble, perfectly wearable, realized thanks to a high-resolution 3D scan of the rapper Fedez, who has made himself available for playing the role of making a hero from a public persona. “For a millennia – explains the curator Filippo Masino – the marble transforms the things that are born as humble and transitory into noble and eternal substances, weather we are talking about the human body, a piece of material or a headband. Thanks to the gesture of Fabio Viale, the liveliness of reality reemerges from the stone surfaces, but not through the usual metaphors: the decomposition of the Maestri statues, the restructuring of the significance of false materials stimulate our senses and curiosity, and are simultaneously capable of sending messages of universal value”.
From the ten works exhibited in this moment, five are situated in the internal spaces and the other five are exhibited at the Reale Square (Piazzetta Reale), in front of the museum. “There are many factors in play when a piece of art needs to be insured – explains Rosalba Acquaviva, Director of the Art Division and Private Insurance of Strategica Group – initiating from the transport and positioning fase, which are especially delicate since these pieces are fragile but monumental. Also, the place of the exhibition needs to be considered: majority of the statues are placed on the outside, in a piazza, a gathering place, which brings more risks for possible damages. The most important characteristic of an art insurance policy is undoubtedly the flexibility to adopt and manage multiple conditions. Fortunately, in Strategica we can count on the professionality of experts that can find the best solution for every project.
