Fondazione Prada is the place that has a special energy, this museum is alive, I always return to this place and have written for many times about it on my blog. Everything made by Miuccia Prada is always provocative! The Fondazione Prada concept duplicates the concept of the Prada brand: art doesn’t have to be esthetical and understandable. The museum exhibitions have pieces of art in which the concept matters more than beauty.
This time I will tell you about two exhibitions of the American Edward Kienholz and William N.Copley. Both of them are very provocative. The organizers themselves notify the visitors and limit the exhibition visiting for emotional and sensitive people.
The first exhibition contains the works of the American Edward Kienholz. In the museum, there are 26 of his works, including one of his strongest work : “Five car stud”. This installation which borders are defined by five standing automobiles was created in the period between 1969 and 1972. This shocking piece of art was for more than 40 years a part of a personal collection in Japan. Just in 2012 it has become opened for public, and just now it is located for the first time in Milan. “Five car stud” is almost a cinematographic installation about racial discrimination. The installation captures a scene of cruel violence of five white men over one black guy that was spending time with a white woman. Frankly, there is a full sense of presence while looking at this work. The installation has a strong symbolic power. Other Edward Kienholz’s works touch such topics as violence against women and kids and other different scenes of life that are lacking spirituality. Kienholz managed to create the reality and terrible truth from regular everyday objects.
The works of the second artist, William N.Copley were placed on two floors of the Prada museum. The first part tells the story of his development as a human being. His evolution starting with the time when he was a boy in a shelter until the time when he has become one of the most prominent representatives of the contemporary art, a gallery owner, and collector. There are also presented the pieces of art that he has been collecting for his entire life and that have a big importance for him. The second floor reveals Copley through his works. One of the topics presented by the artist is the political ideology and the cold war, topics that were very actual back in the 60’s. He often inspired from erotic magazines in his works. Sex has a special place in the works of this artist. Be ready to find scenes from the regular life of American cowboys mixed with the author’s pornographic fantasies. The exaggerated fantasies are softened by the vivid colors and cartoon figures. Thanks to his ironical creativity, William N.Copley was and still remains the connecting link between surrealism and pop art.
I highly recommend you to visit these exhibitions, to feel them and live a whole branch of feelings, even though most of them are shocking. After that just take a moment to think about the modern world and look at it with different eyes.
Photo: Jenia Broggi
