Il Tempo del Futurismo

Promoted and supported by the Ministry of Culture and curated by Gabriele Simongini, the major exhibition on Italy’s first historical avant-garde of the 20th century celebrates the 80th anniversary of the death of journalist, poet and playwright Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, author in 1909 of the founding manifesto of the Futurist movement.

Unlike other exhibitions in the past, the exhibition at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome focuses on the relationship between art and science/technology, on an expressive language capable of interpreting and capturing the spirit of the times in an era revolutionized by scientific and technological innovations, a theme as relevant as ever. The exhibition aims to be inclusive, didactic and multidisciplinary, targeting the general public and particularly the younger generation, illustrating the concepts of speed, space, distance and perceptual sensitivity evident in the masterpieces of Futurism.

Some 350 works are on display: paintings, sculptures, furnishings, plans, drawings, films, books, posters and scientific instruments, as well as motorcycles, automobiles and even a Macchi MC72 seaplane, an all-time speed record from 1933 to 1939, occupy 26 halls of the Gallery, totaling about 4,000 square meters of exhibition space. Most of the works come from the museum's own collections, as well as from major national and international institutions and collections, including MOMA, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Estorick Collection in London, and the Kunstmuseum Den Haag. To best describe the futurist atmosphere, the exhibition is enhanced by two site-specific installations by Magister Art and Lorenzo Marini.