Ceramic autumn kicks off at Palaexpo
Brilliant Fiat Topolino
Arman's Fiat has drawn all the attention
The grand opening of the exhibitions at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, sponsored by the City hall, was held on Friday night. Palazzo Manfredi officials set up the exhibitions for the first time without external consulting. A reddish mushroom was standing outside, "softly" art paths were marked inside, large tarpaulins were put in the courtyard for those attending to shelter from the rain.
A crowd of guests, as always, poured into the corridors of the former boys orphanage filled with ceramic treasures. The most popular person of the evening was undoubtedly Arman. The very likeable artist, French by birth but now American by adoption, personally illustrated his creations. His works were overwhelmed with attention: thirty people were let in at a time in the gallery reserved for his creations, specifically to allow a quiet - as far as possible - visit.
The Fiat Topolino entirely made of ceramic and filled to the brim with white coffee pots (also made of ceramics) immediately stood out, stunning and absolutely brilliant. There were so many coffee pots that several were coming out of one door, while the other door was half open for the pressure of those white kitchen tools. Arman explained why he chose a model Topolino crammed with coffee makers: the Topolino car of his memories represents a symbol of Italy in the immediate postwar period, while coffee, on the other hand, is Italy.
Arman enormous success, flattered by art critics and journalists, should not, however, overshadow how much else is on display at Palazzo delle esposizioni and in all the art initiatives open at this time in Faenza. The 18th century porcelains from the Castello di Buonconsiglio in Trento are truly adorable, while the Antiques Biennale is rich in beautiful bargains as always and the archival material related to the Jesuit pharmacy in Novellara is exceptional. There is also an invoice signed by the "first master of Faenza" Leonardo Bettisi, known as Don Pino, on display. The Jesuits had commissioned works to him, who was one of the best Italian artists at the time.
