New York, Marco Anelli's photos chronicle the construction of Magazzino Italian Art

In New York City, Magazzino Italian Art will open on August 23, 2024 a photographic exhibition by Marco Anelli dedicated to the construction of the museum, entitled Marco Anelli: Building Warehouse 2014-2024. The exhibition, curated by Paola Mura, will be on view until October 14, 2024 at the Robert Olnick Pavilion and features approximately fifty large-format photographs, many of them previously unpublished, taken by photographer Marco Anelli over the course of a decade.

The images on display document the different stages of the transformation of Magazzino Italian Art, a museum dedicated to postwar Italian art, from a simple project to a concrete reality. Marco Anelli, a Roman-born photographer, had exclusive access to the museum’s construction site, capturing not only the architectural details but also the workers who contributed to the construction. His photographs restore the atmosphere of a usually inaccessible place, capturing the humanity and commitment of the workers who, day after day, participated in the realization of this ambitious project.

The exhibition traces the history of Magazzino’s main building, a former milk pasteurization plant, transformed in 2017 by Spanish architect Miguel Quismondo into the home of Arte Povera’s permanent collection. The photographs continue to the more recent construction of the Robert Olnick Pavilion, designed by Quismondo himself in collaboration with Alberto Campo Baeza, designed to host temporary exhibitions and cultural programs.

In addition to documenting the architectural evolution of Magazzino, Anelli’s work focuses on the artisans and workers who physically built the museum. His images, made without artificial poses, highlight the human value behind each stage of the work, offering a novel and authentic perspective of the construction process.

For Marco Anelli, “These images aim to tell the story of Magazzino through the sense of pride that the women and men brought to the construction site work every day. It was an honor to tell their stories and to see them transform Magazzino from an idea to a concrete reality.”

Exhibition curator Paola Mura says, “Unlike classic documentation, Anelli’s work offers an unprecedented perspective that only his artistic vision could capture. The photos are not just a testimony, but a particular look that reflects his unique approach to the subject. They reveal the museum’s journey by emphasizing the power of art to inspire and create. Anelli’s photographic work reflects his constant investigation of architecture, the environment and humanity. The photographer presents thought-provoking works that restore the rhythm of work, highlight the often underestimated contribution of workers and recognize their essential role, along with that of the entire local community.”

Magazzino’s founders, Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu, say, “We are honored to have commissioned this project from Marco Anelli, whose work is as much a part of the museum as the facilities and exhibition program. It was critical to us that Warehouse be built by and for the people of Putnam County and the surrounding area. We are proud to pay tribute to the extraordinary contributions of these people through an exhibition that testifies to how much the museum is truly their work.”

The exhibition is accompanied by a volume, published in 2017 and titled Marco Anelli: Building Warehouse, which documents the construction of the museum’s first building through 129 color photographs. Anelli, who is from Rome but lives in New York City, is known for his long-term photographic projects and has explored themes ranging from architecture and music to immigration and sculpture.

New York, Marco Anelli's photos chronicle the construction of Magazzino Italian Art

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