From 28 October 2023 to 12 May 2024, the MUSEC - Museum of Cultures of Lugano - hosts an exhibition by Luca Pignatelli, of great historical-artistic value.
The museum rooms will be dedicated at Luca Pignatelli's first solo exhibition, famous Milanese artist, focused exclusively on his abstract research, to which he has dedicated himself in the last ten years of his career. This exhibition, entitled Abstract, represents a new appointment in the “Global Aesthetics” project of MUSEC and offers the gaze of 49 large-scale works, many of which have never been published before.

The abstract art of Luca Pignatelli

The exhibition "Abstract" is the result of a two-year dialogue between Milanese artist Luca Pignatelli and the exhibition's curator and director of MUSEC, Francesco Paolo Campione. This dialogue highlighted the significance of abstract work for Pignatelli, taking his research into new territories, characterized by the unique relationship between matter and time, a distinctive trait that has characterized his extensive career since the beginning.

The exhibition presents 49 large-format works, mainly created using large portions of disused railway tarpaulins. These materials were joined, sewn, drilled, burned and subsequently painted and worked with inserts of different nature. The objective is to transform exhausted material into a complex universe of meanings, following the expressive methods of abstraction.

The exhibition itinerary

The exhibition itinerary is structured around eleven key words, such as "person", "memory", "memory", "abyss", "cave", "earth" and others. Each term is connected to the next to create a spiral itinerary that extends towards infinite spiritual depth. These words reflect the values ​​of Pignatelli's expressive choices and are accompanied by short texts written by the artist, which guide visitors through the different sections of the exhibition.

Anthropological Exhibition

The exhibition layout was designed to offer a unique perspective on Pignatelli's creative process. In addition to exhibiting his works, some rooms include actual corners of the artist's Milanese studio, with tables, chairs, armchairs, sofas and trolleys hosting photographs, papers, drawings, images cut out of newspapers, looms, piles of railway tarpaulins , shards, nails, metal bars, cordage, brushes and paint cans. This approach highlights the anthropological dimension and the social context that are an integral part of every form of creativity, even the most abstract.

“Global Aesthetics” and the goal of MUSEC

This initiative is the new chapter of MUSEC's “Global Aesthetics” cycle, which explores the various forms and languages ​​of contemporary creativity. The objective is to challenge the increasingly widespread tendency to consider contemporary art mainly as a fashion phenomenon and, instead, put the profound reasons and context of artistic creation processes at the center of attention. In this way, the visitor is offered the opportunity to live an aesthetic experience rich in nuances.

The catalog and other works by Luca Pignatelli

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog in two editions, Italian and English, edited by Francesco Paolo Campione, entitled “Luca Pignatelli. Abstract Global Aesthetics/4” (SKIRA Editore, pp. 164). Furthermore, the Culture and Museums Foundation publishes a precious artist's book entitled "Genesis and abstract", edited by Francesco Paolo Campione, in 149 signed and numbered copies, each accompanied by a fragment of an original work by Luca Pignatelli.

Luca Pignatelli, the artist

The “Astratto” exhibition represents a significant moment in the career of Luca Pignatelli, born in Milan in 1962. From a young age, he took his first steps in the atelier of his father, Ercole Pignatelli, a painter and sculptor of Lecce origins. Luca Pignatelli studied architecture at the Polytechnic of Milan, where he developed a strong interest in history and architecture, influencing his artistic approach.

Pignatelli's production has evolved over time through the diversified use of materials and techniques, focusing on large-format works. The privileged places of his research are factories, military arsenals and anonymous warehouses in port cities, which share the charm of an infinite aggregation of contents. In the '90s, he introduced the use of pictorial materials such as hemp canvas from railway trains, moving ever closer to an abstract language made of portions of matter on recycled supports.

Luca Pignatelli's works are exhibited in prestigious European and American private collections and in important museum institutions, including the New York Historical Society, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Capodimonte Museum in Naples and many others.

Information

Luca Pignatelli's exhibition at MUSEC | Museum of Cultures Lugano will be held at Villa Malpensata (via Giuseppe Mazzini 5/Riva Caccia 5) from 28 October 2023 to 12 May 2024. Opening hours vary depending on the days of the week, with prices for full, reduced and for the guys. Furthermore, every Monday it is possible to visit the museum at a discounted price. The exhibition is supported by the City of Lugano, the Republic and Canton of Ticino (Swisslos Fund) and the Ada Ceschin and Rosanna Pilone Foundation of Zurich.

  • Tuesday: closed
  • Monday-Friday: 11am-18pm
  • Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 10am-18pm

Tickets

  • Full price (from 16 years): CHF 15.00
  • Reduced (seniors; university students; FAI Swiss): CHF 10.00
  • Children (6-15 years): CHF 5.00
  • MUSEC Mondays promotion – every Monday you enter the Museum at a discounted price

Luca Pignatelli at MUSEC