at the National Central Library of Florence
Project curated by Stefano Pezzato
The second meeting of the prologue to the inaugural exhibition The End of the World, launched one month before the Grand Opening. An important framework of collaborations which presents some emblematic works from the collection in prestigious institutional centres of the region.
On the occasion of the “European Heritage Days”, the work of Remo Salvadori, Stella (1998), will be on display at the National Library of Florence. The work was created for the occasion of the collective exhibition by the Pecci Centre in celebration of its first ten years of activity, 10 Intensità in Europa (10 Intensities in Europe) 1998, curated by Bruno Cora.
The place
The National Central Library of Florence, given special autonomy from 2008, originates from the private library of Antonio Magliabechi and in 1714 was left “for the universal benefit of the city of Florence". It was combined by the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo with the Biblioteca Palatina and was then established as the National Library of the new Kingdom of Italy in 1861. The present Neo-Renaissance style building, connected to the monumental complex of Santa Croce, began construction in 1911 under the architect Cesare Bazzani and was inaugurated in 1935 by King Vittorio Emanuele III. It was later enlarged by the architect Vincenzo Mazzei.
The "hall of catalogues" is in the rationalist style, with chrome finishes and furnishings, on a predominantly white marble floor. Since December 1999 it has served as the digital area and that of information services which allows for the management of services, online consultation, internet browsing and the reading of library materials, in addition to the consultation of every catalogue and print in the library.
A selection of exemplary works of contemporary art from the collection of the Pecci Centre in Prato serves as an introduction and "frame" for The End of the World exhibition, curated by the director Fabio Cavallucci for the reopening to the public of the renovated cultural institution in Prato.
Collected over three decades of artistic activity, their presentation is curated by the conservator of the Centre Stefano Pezzato, the works are on display for the occasion in some of the most prestigious institutional centres in the region.
The six major works coming from the Centro Pecci collection - works by renowned Italian and foreign artists of the second half of the twentieth century - form a diverse yet eloquent sampling of contemporary artistic proposals related to the central theme of the "state of uncertainty which prevails in our world", and are inserted and therefore related to different contexts of human knowledge such as literature review and scientific research, in particular pre-history, zoology, astronomy, physics, geometry and technology.
Piazza dei Cavalleggeri, 1, 50122 Firenze, Italia
Promoted by
Fondazione per le Arti Contemporanee in Toscana, Prato
Supported by
Regione Toscana
Opening
September 24, 2016