Maurizio Nannucci, “New Times for Other Ideas : New Ideas for Other Times”, 2020, courtesy ArtLine Milano. Foto di Alberto Fanelli
Maurizio Nannucci, New Times for Other Ideas / New Ideas for Other Times
New Times for Other Ideas / New Ideas for Other Times is a double red and blue neon writing installation specifically designed for the façade of Pavilion 3, a building by architect Paolo Vietti Violi dating from 1923 which today is the only remaining trace of Milan’s old Fiera facilities. In line with a pattern Nannucci has explored many times before in his artistic production, viewers (or simple passersby) are presented with two almost specular phrases, words inspiring a new understanding of the specific spatial context while also inviting one to reflect on the ideas of innovation, the passing of time, and the interactions these concepts can bring about. CityLife is a location where urban planning and architectural interventions have been radical, transforming everyday life in the neighborhood as well as Milan’s entire skyline. Against this backdrop, the artist’s installation sets out to inspire a reflection on the impact such changes have on our lives and even on our way of thinking and understanding reality around us – reflections that draw strength from the fact that Nannucci’s work is positioned on a symbolic architecture, one of the few traces of the area’s past, a living testament to the location’s previous identity.
Maurizio Nannucci (Florence, 1939) lives in Italy and south Baden. His early production dates to the mid-1960s focusing on the relation between visuals and language and exploring a variety of media including photography, video, artist’s book, installation, performance, and sound and theatre experimentations. In 1967 he introduces neon lights into his practice. This line of research is one of the most relevant in his production, combining aspects of conceptual art with a more poetic and dialogue-based interaction with the viewer. Often conceived as large-size installations, his neon works are based on an in-depth study of their surrounding architectural space. Nannucci’s work has participated in several editions of the Venice Biennale, Documenta in Kassel and in the São Paulo, Sydney, and Istanbul Biennales. His works are exhibited internationally and permanently installed in some of the most prestigious international institutions.