A hundred years after the death of Umberto Boccioni (1882-1916) Milan celebrates the famous Futurist artist with at least two new events:
An exhibition of the artist’s oeuvre titled “Umberto Boccioni: Genio e memoria,” just opened yesterday, March 23, at the Museo del Novecento – Palazzo Reale. In an unprecedented move, the curators Francesca Rossi and Agostino Contò not only included Boccioni’s paintings and sculptures, but also sixty drawings from the Castello Sforzesco collection in Milan. In all, the exhibition boasts 280 objects that also number in engravings, old photographs, books, journals and private letters.
Capitalizing on the spotlight on Boccioni, art historian Gino Agnese released a new biography on the artist titled “Umberto Boccioni. L’artista che sfido il futuro” through Johan & Levi publishers. This new biography offers important insights into the fast-paced and extraordinarily rich life of the artist. In his narrative, Agnese extends the metaphor of speed and dynamism – terms all too well associated with Boccioni’s art – to describe the personality of painter. Boccioni is characterized as having a rapid intellect and an ability to quickly metabolize experiences to produce new insights and inventions.
Many more commemorations of Boccioni’s extraordinary life and works will be sure to speedily follow in 2016 as the painter’s art continues to gain momentum in the 21st century.