Mantua’s 14th-century San Giorgio Castle has opened its doors to modern art for the
first time, with an exhibit celebrating the sculptures of Italian abstract artist Lucio Fontana. The castle, part of the Palazzo Ducale complex, once home to the Gonzaga ruling family of this northern Italian city, is displaying around 70 pieces of art by Fontana
(1899-1968). Most of the works are sculptures but there are also a number of drawings and preparatory sketches by the artist who is best known for founding Italy’s Spatialist movement. The exhibit seeks to strike a balance between Fontana’s more traditional works and his abstract pieces. It starts with a collection of his drawings, introducing visitors to some of the concepts behind his art, before moving into a number of his massive sculptures of the 1930s, including Campione Olimpionico (Olympic Champion), Il
Fiocinatore (the Harpooner) and Paulette. Campione Olimpionico, also called Athlete Waiting, is made entirely of blue-coloured plaster and was one of the works Fontana was most fond of, choosing it to represent him at an important 1935 exhibit in Rome.
Fontana, born of an Italian father and an Argentine mother, spent his early years in Italy, before moving to Argentina and then returning to Italy as a young man.
The Mantua show highlights his sculptures but he gained equal renown for his paintings, and is best known as the founder of Spatalism.
He published his first issue of the Manifesto Spaziale magazine in 1947, in which he developed a number of his earlier ideas, calling for art that embraced science and
technology. Transferring these ideas into practical art, he made increasing use of neon light and radio.
Source: life in italy.comÂ
