At the Magnani Rocca Foundation, an exhibition traces the links between Surrealism and Italy

One hundred years ago Surrealism was born, changing the perception of the world forever. “Imagination is nothing but the revelation of what we are, of our own substance, which is dream, purity, energy, freedom,” wrote André Breton in his Manifeste du Surréalisme, published on Oct. 15, 1924, officially marking the start of this revolutionary movement.

Thus, to commemorate this anniversary, starting Sept. 14 and running through Dec. 15, 2024, the Magnani-Rocca Foundation in Mamiano di Traversetolo, near Parma, will celebrate this decisive and long-lived avant-garde of the 20th century with the major exhibition Surrealism and Italy. The exhibition will take place in the evocative Villa dei Capolavori, just a few steps from the rooms that house works by masters such as Renoir, Monet, Cézanne, Titian, Dürer, Van Dyck, Goya, Canova, Morandi, Burri and many others.

Curated by Alice Ensabella, Alessandro Nigro, and Stefano Roffi, the exhibition will feature more than 150 works by icons of Surrealism such as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Max Ernst, Joan Miró, Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, Yves Tanguy, Giorgio de Chirico and his brother Alberto Savinio, Enrico Baj, Fabrizio Clerici, Leonor Fini, and other protagonists of this imaginative current. The exhibition will witness the vastness of Surrealism’s media and languages, exploring its impact and evolution in Italy.

The exhibition is divided into two major chapters, divided into thematic sections. The first chapter presents international Surrealism and its arrival in Italy, initially mediated by the work of de Chirico and Savinio, and later represented through the works of the masters of the historical movement. These works highlight a profound aesthetic and formal heterogeneity, as well as a multitude of media used, including painting, collage, assemblage, photography, ready-made and objets trouvés. The second chapter identifies the protagonists of the Italian Surrealist scene, examining their connections with the French group and highlighting their independence and originality. Two main trends in Italy are outlined: the emergence of a group inspired by new artistic practices, represented by artists such as Sergio Dangelo and Enrico Baj, and a fantastic figurative strand, characterized by visionary works by artists such as Leonor Fini, Fabrizio Clerici and Stanislao Lepri, who were deeply influenced by de Chirico and Savinio.

The exhibition devotes special attention to the spread of Surrealism in Italy, highlighting the gallerists and collectors who were its main originators. Among them, figures such as Schwarz, Tazzoli, Cardazzo, Del Corso, Jolas, Sargentini, and Brin, and collectors such as Peggy Guggenheim and Passaré played a crucial role in promoting and supporting the movement.

The Magnani-Rocca Foundation invites the public to embark on this fascinating journey to discover how the Surrealist movement liberated the unconscious and transformed the perception of reality. Quoting Breton once again, “The marvelous is always beautiful, indeed, only the marvelous is beautiful.”

Exhibition hours: Tuesday through Friday continuous 10am-6pm (box office closes at 5pm) - Saturday, Sunday and holidays continuous 10am-7pm (box office closes at 6pm). Also open Nov. 1 and Dec. 8. Monday closed.

Admission: € 15 also valid for Permanent Collections, Renoir focus exhibition and Romantic Park - € 13 for groups of at least fifteen - € 5 for schools and under fourteen. The ticket also includes a free visit to the Villa’s Secret Cabinets. For less than fifteen people, reservations are not necessary; tickets are purchased upon arrival at the Foundation. For information: www.magnanirocca.it

Exhibition and catalog edited by Alice Ensabella of Université Grenoble Alpes, Alessandro Nigro of University of Florence, Stefano Roffi scientific director of the Magnani-Rocca Foundation. Catalog (Dario Cimorelli Editore) with essays by the curators and by Silvana Annicchiarico, Mauro Carrera, Walter Guadagnini, Davide Lacagnina, Eugenia Maria Rossi, Angela Sanna, Ilaria Schiaffini, Alessandra Vaccari.

At the Magnani Rocca Foundation, an exhibition traces the links between Surrealism and Italy

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