In Bologna, the former church of San Barbaziano reopens and revives with Per Barclay's work

On the occasion of ART CITY Bologna 2025 and Arte Fiera, theformer Church of San Barbaziano in Bologna, finally restored, opens its doors to the installation project La Strage degli Innocenti by Per Barclay (Oslo, 1955). The work, curated by Denise Tamborrino and Patrizia Cirino, offers a dialogue between Guido Reni ’s painting and the present through an immersive, multisensory experience. The exhibition is promoted by the National Museums of Bologna - Regional Directorate National Museums Emilia-Romagna, in collaboration with AICS Bologna, Otto Gallery and Galleria Giorgio Persano. It will be open to the public from Jan. 31 to Feb. 9, 2025, with opening on Jan. 31 at 3 p.m.

With his work, Barclay reinterprets the drama of Guido Reni’s La Strage degli Innocenti, creating an installation that invites reflection on the themes of vulnerability and the contradictions of our time. Through skillful use of space, reflections and materials, the Norwegian artist constructs a visual oxymoron that forces the viewer to question his or her perceptual and cognitive habits. The sacred space of the former church becomes a place of mediation and active reflection, where memories, desires and personal sensibilities are intertwined with the contradictions of contemporaneity.

To crown the event, on Feb. 8 and 9, the former Church of San Barbaziano will host the site-specific performance Threshold curated by Əkodanza. The human body is imagined as a threshold that connects and distinguishes, in a dynamic process that explores the limits and potential of experience. Performances are accessible by reservation through Eventbrite, with sessions scheduled at the following times: Feb. 8: 7:30 p.m. / 8:30 p.m. / 9:30 p.m.; Feb. 9: 11:30 a.m. / 12:30 p.m.

The restoration of the former Church of San Barbaziano.

The restoration project, overseen by Studio Poggioli, restored the building’s identity as an urban ruin, combining conservative restoration with contemporary design elements. The use of materials such as corten and burnished brass emphasizes the dialogue between past and present, recalling the passage of time. Large windows with industrial-inspired fixtures and innovative lighting details emphasize the space’s transition from a place of worship to a cultural hub.

Built in 1608 to a design by architect Pietro Fiorini, the church has gone through centuries of change, becoming a military depot, barn and workshop during the 20th century. After decades of neglect, the restoration honors its rebirth as a space for artistic and cultural dialogue.

Notes on the artist

Born in Oslo in 1955, Per Barclay lives and works between Turin and Oslo. After studying Art History and completing his art education between Florence, Bologna and Rome, he has exhibited his works in major international museums. His research focuses on the dialogue between architecture and human interiority, with installations that transform real space into a scene charged with psychological tension and visual ambiguity. Famous are his oil rooms, immersive places that combine photography, sculpture and installation. Recent projects include exhibitions at Manifesta 12 in Palermo (2018), a solo show at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter in Oslo (2023), and numerous site-specific interventions that continue to redefine the relationship between space and viewer.

In Bologna, the former church of San Barbaziano reopens and revives with Per Barclay's work

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