Fondazione Prada

Fondazione Prada, co-chaired by Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli since 1995, is an institution dedicated to contemporary art and culture.^[1] From 1993 to 2010, the Fondazione has organised 24 solo shows at its exhibition spaces in Milan, conceived as dialogues with internationally acclaimed contemporary artists such as Anish Kapoor (1995), Louise Bourgeois (1997), Sam Taylor-Wood (1998), Walter De Maria (1999), Enrico Castellani (2001), Steve McQueen (2005), Tom Sachs (2006), Nathalie Djurberg (2008) and John Baldessari (2010).^[2][3]

History

In the past 20 years, it has also promoted a rich cultural programme, such as film festivals (Tribeca Film Festival at Fondazione Prada”, 2004; “Italian Kings of the Bs. Secret History of Italian Cinema, 1949-1976”, 2004; “Secret History of Asian Cinema”, 2005; “Secret History of Russian Cinema”, 2007), multi-disciplinary and philosophy talks and architecture and design projects (“Herzog & de Meuron, OMA/AMO Rem Koolhaas. Projects for Prada. Works in Progress”, 2001; “Unveiling the Prada Foundation”, 2008; “Rotor: Ex Limbo”, 2011.^[4][5] In 2011, the Fondazione Prada opened a new exhibition space in Venice,^[6] the Ca’ Corner della Regina, a historic palazzo on the Grand Canal, which has hosted several collective exhibitions: “Fondazione Prada_Ca’ Corner”, 2011; “The Small Utopia. Ars multiplicata”, 2012,^[7] “When Attitudes Become Form: Bern 1969/Venice 2013”, 2013 ^[8][9] and "Art or Sound", 2014.^[10]

Special international projects by the Fondazione include "Double Club" by Carsten Höller in London,^[11] "Prada Transformer" by OMA in Seul ^[12] and "24h Museum" by Francesco Vezzoli at the Palais d’Iéna in Paris.^[13][14]

Between 2005 and 2009, on the occasion of the Venice Biennale, solo exhibitions by Francesco Vezzoli (2005),^[15] Thomas Demand (2007), John Wesley (2009)^[16][17] were presented at the Giorgio Cini Foundation in Venice.

Fondazione Prada's new venue in Milan

On 9 May 2015, the Fondazione Prada will unveil its new permanent Milan venue, in Largo Isarco. The new Milan venue of the Fondazione, conceived by architecture firm OMA—led by Rem Koolhaas—expands the repertoire of spatial typologies in which art can be exhibited and shared with the public. Articulated by an architectural configuration which combines preexisting buildings with three new structures, it is the result of the transformation of a former distillery dating back to the 1910’s. Located in Largo Isarco, in the South of Milan, the compound has a gross surface area of 19,000 m2/205,000 ft2, of which 11,000 m2/118,000 ft2 is dedicated as exhibition space. The entrance building will welcome visitors to two new facilities, developed through special collaborations: a kids’ area designed by a group of students from the École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Versailles, and a bar where director Wes Anderson has recreated the typical mood of old Milan cafés.^[18]

On the occasion of the opening of its new Milan venue, Fondazione Prada will present a wide range of activities. Robert Gober and Thomas Demand will realize site-specific installations in dialogue with the industrial architecture and the new spaces in the compound. Roman Polanski will explore the cinematographic inspirations behind his artistic vision, which will translate into a new documentary and a series of film screenings. Selections of artworks from the Prada Collection will be presented in a series of thematic exhibitions. Along with the new spaces in Milan, the Fondazione’s Venetian venue will continue to operate in the 18th century palazzo Ca’ Corner della Regina. From May and throughout summer 2015, both locations will be thematically linked by two ancient art exhibitions, 'Serial Classic' and 'Portable Classic', devised by Salvatore Settis.^[19][20]

References