The exhibition “La Grande Visione Italiana – Collezione Farnesina” (“The Great Italian Vision. Farnesina Collection”), organised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Directorate General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy under the special curatorship of Achille Bonito Oliva, was inaugurated today in Singapore by the Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi. The exhibition features 70 works of contemporary art from the Farnesina Collection, which can be seen outside of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the first time. After Singapore, the works will continue their Asian tour to Tokyo, New Delhi and Seoul.
As Undersecretary Tripodi pointed out in her speech, “This is a particularly significant cultural diplomacy initiative, one of the high points of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ promotional activity in 2023, to present the best of contemporary Italian art to the foreign public by means of a journey through the history of Italian art from the 20th century to the present day. Sixty great artists have been selected by Achille Bonito Oliva – from Boccioni to Carla Accardi, from Mimmo Jodice to Michelangelo Pistoletto, passing through Mario Merz and Grazia Varisco.”
The exhibition will be open from 7 to 25 February in the prestigious venue of “The Arts House” in Singapore. In addition to the main exhibition, some works will also be presented in the exhibition space of the new premises of the Italian Embassy in Singapore.
“This is an unprecedented international debut, which adds an important piece to the bilateral relations between Singapore and Italy,” continued Undersecretary Tripodi. “The exhibition is scheduled to be held in four major cities in Asia because the local demand for Italian culture has been growing steadily in recent years. Art and culture play a strategic role in serving Italy’s interest and diplomatic action, proving to be a driver of attractiveness towards the country. One of the objectives of the Italian government’s action, as led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be the strengthening of a diplomacy of growth, of which culture is an essential part, bringing together the synergies and creativity of all the country’s components”.
On the sidelines of the opening, Undersecretary Tripodi had a cordial meeting with Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Culture, Low Yen Ling, during which the common interest in continuing cooperation in the fields of science and technology, innovation, art and design was reaffirmed.
The exhibition will be on display in Singapore until 25 February, during the Chinese New Year period, before moving to its next international stop in Tokyo.
