An exhibition in Desenzano del Garda celebrates Roy Lichtenstein on the centenary of his birth

On the occasion of the centenary of his birth, Desenzano del Garda pays homage to Roy Lichtenstein, among the most important American artists of international Pop Art. In fact, the Castle is hosting from April 29 to July 16, 2023 the exhibition Roy Lichtenstein: the Sixties and the history of international Pop art, curated by Matteo Vanzan, organized by the Department of Culture and produced by MV Eventi.

On display are sixty works by Lichtenstein and some of the main protagonists of the artistic renewal of the 1960s. “Pop culture,” says Culture Councillor Pietro Avanzi, “returns to fill with its colors and values the walls of our medieval castle going to enhance it once again: the works of Roy Lichtenstein represent a leap into the past of the 1960s that projects us within the international history of Pop Art. I am convinced that once again the public will respond greatly in the nearly three months of the exhibition’s display: it is no coincidence that we have chosen a global and world-renowned artist, as we are entering the height of the tourist season with many people coming from all over Europe. I thank the invaluable contribution of Matteo Vanzan, curator and organizer of the exhibition, without whom all this would not have been possible.”

Roy Lichtenstein was an undisputed protagonist, along with Andy Warhol, of the return to figuration in the 1960s after the Informal season.

His works draw on a collective imagination made up of comic strips, advertisements, Walt Disney characters, and Air Force pilots responding to the need to depersonalize the work of art from its most intimate meanings not being, as he himself declared, “interested in divulging themes that teach people something, or that try, in some way, to improve society.”

“The exhibition itinerary,” the curator explains, “is structured to offer an overview of Lichtenstein’s work and his famous painting technique, which, in line with Warholian research, aims to associate artistic creation with an actual industrial product, starting, however, always from the drawing, of which we have a specimen on display in the exhibition. The Ben Day dots technique, named after the 19th-century illustrator and printer Benjamin Henry Day who first introduced them, brought Lichtenstein instant recognition within the contemporary art system, making him one of the most beloved artists of the second half of the 20th century.”

The exhibition will feature some of his best-known works such as Crack! from 1963 used as a publicity poster to announce Lichtenstein’s exhibition at Leo Castelli Gallery, 1967’s As I open fire, 1987’s Drowing Girl published by MoMA New York and based on the DC Comic story Run for Love!, as well as his famous tributes to Pablo Picasso and Carlo Carrà with 1975’s The red horsemen.

Also of great importance will be the emotional aspect of the exhibition, whose goal will be to transport the visitor inside a timeless era through the projection of films, documentaries such as Woodstock and a rich soundtrack made up of songs by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin and many others.

“To complete the exhibition,” Vanzan concludes, “we wanted to pay tribute to some of the most important personalities in the art of the 1960s such as 1964 Venice Biennale Grand Prix winner Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Englishman Joe Tilson, Jim Dine as well as a parenthesis due to both Nouveau Réalisme with Arman, Yves Klein and Mimmo Rotella.”

Hours: Through May 31 Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays. From June 1 to July 16 Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

An exhibition in Desenzano del Garda celebrates Roy Lichtenstein on the centenary of his birth

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