Aere

The contemporary art exhibition “Isola Prossima” returns for the fourth consecutive year, organised by Arpa Umbria in collaboration with the Art Monsters Association. After exploring natural elements such as water and earth in previous editions held on Isola Polvese and Montefalco, in 2024 the focus shifts to a new protagonist: air.

The exhibition, curated by the historian and art critic Massimo Mattioli, presents the works of 25 internationally renowned artists from different generations, active from the mid-19th century to the present day.
The choice of venue is particularly significant: the Palazzo della Penna Civic Museum in Perugia, which houses an important collection of works by Gerardo Dottori, a famous exponent of Aeropittura. The title of the exhibition, “Aere”, reflects this connection with air, and the integration of Dottori’s works into the exhibition will enrich its content and enhance the museum’s permanent collection.

Since the Renaissance, the element of air has played a central role in the artistic imagination due to its versatility. From Leonardo da Vinci’s famous studies on wind, through Correggio’s “Jupiter and Io”, in which fog plays a seductive role, to William Turner’s stormy landscapes, air has inspired artists of all ages.

In the 20th century, works such as Marcel Duchamp’s “Air de Paris”, a vial containing air from Paris, and the provocative works of Piero Manzoni and Gino De Dominicis made air a highly topical subject.
The element of air is also addressed in its contemporary implications, such as pollution and climate change. The artists on display offer a broad and multifaceted view of the theme. Among the works on display are an 1850 gouache by Giacinto Gigante depicting a study for a cloud, and the impressive installation ‘The Cloud – Cuore’ by Argentine artist Leandro Erlich. The exhibition also includes works by Indian artist Shilpa Gupta, who explores air pollution and the metaphysical value of air.
Artist Luca Vitone also addresses the ethical issues surrounding air with large canvases exposed to the elements – rain, dust and wind – which become the pictorial elements of these fascinating works.

The exhibition is supported by the Perugia Foundation with the patronage of the Umbria Region, the Province of Perugia, the Municipality of Perugia, the Academy of Fine Arts in Perugia and ISPRA.

Artists on display:

Giacinto Gigante / Piero Manzoni / Gino De Dominicis / Bruno Ceccobelli / Luca Vitone / Leandro Erlich / Mariateresa Sartori / Mario Consiglio / Berndnaut Smilde / Donato Piccolo / Juan Pablo Macías / Giovanni Gaggia / Virginia Zanetti / Paolo Manazza / Massimiliano Poggioni / Edoardo Cialfi / Olga Lepri / Arturo Casanova / Pablo Candiloro / Aldo Grazzi / Giuliano Giuggioli / Corrado Bonomi / Casper Faassen / Arcangelo Sassolino / Elvio Chiricozzi