Re Rebaudengo
The exhibition, held in conjunction with the exhibition Sunshine & Noir. Art at Los Angeles 1960 – 1997 (Castello di Rivoli), presents an itinerary through the artistic landscape of a metropolis like Los Angeles, a symbolic city and the last frontier in which future and dreams combine in a succession of visions and objects, desires and obsessions.
L.A. Times starts with a 1973 photographic work by Charles Ray and embarks upon a voyage which is subjective to the limits of intimacy to lead to the generations of younger artists such as Kevin Hanley, Sharon Lockhart, Jennifer Bornstein, Doug Aitken, Julie Becker and Jason Rhoades.
These emerging figures will be presented alongside now historic figures and works from the Californian scene such as Paul McCarthy with his Bang-Bang Room, Mike Kelley, Jennifer Pastor and Jim Isermann.
Through the creative baggage of a city like Los Angeles, in which the urban landscape loses itself in the natural one, L.A Times aims to underline the psychic relationship of the contemporary individual with his social dimension, and his alienation, but also the closeness of his spirit to the physical confines of his body, with the sounds and noises of a world which is the latest expression of western civilization and the first step for the oriental world, in which consumerism and mysticism finally end up forming a unique, mad cultural blend.
Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, President of the Fondazione, first became closely acquainted with Californian artists in the early ‘90’s and gained an early enthusiasm for the newness of their language and for the particularly fertile, creative atmosphere which she encountered in their studios. In recent years, she has always followed their work, and has added to her collection works by established artists and others by artists of the new generations.
These artists and their works constitute a precise, clearly-defined nucleus in the Re Rebaudengo Sandretto Collection, a rich vein which adds itself to those of contemporary English artists, to the group of young Italian artists, to the photographic section and to the “female” collection by women artists.
This is the second exhibition dedicated to contemporary art to be held at Guarene and is the first true international test for an ancient building which now confronts itself with such a different reality as is presented by Los Angeles. It is in this encounter formed of contradictions and differences that the aims of the Palazzo di Guarene and its projects appear, both looking to the future through itineraries interlaced with history and tradition.
The events at Guarene under the auspices of L.A Times confirm and strengthen the commitment to create a living centre for research and creativity for Italian contemporary culture which is open to international dialogue.
Participating artists:
Doug Aitken, Julie Becker, Jennifer Bornstein, Kevin Hanley, Jim Isermann, Larry Johnson, Mike Kelley, Sharon Lockhart, Paul McCarthy, Catherine Opie, Tony Oursler, Jennifer Pastor, Raymond Pettibon, Lari Pittman, Charles Ray, Jason Rhoades, Jeffrey Vallance.
