Mapplethorpe in Florence (until January 10, 2010)

"Robert Mapplethorpe, Perfection in form" is the exhibition dedicated to great American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, in the twentieth anniversary of his death. It will run until September 27 in the Accademia Gallery of Florence.

This is the first time that his works are exhibited in a temple of art like the Accademia of Florence, known worldwide as the ‘Michelangelo Museum’.



From its very title, Robert Mapplethorpe, perfection in form, exhibition curators Franca Falletti and Jonathan Nelson intend to express the profound principle that associates the artist of photography with the great Renaissance masters and, in particular, with Michelangelo: the search for balance, the precision and clarity inherent to ‘Form’ that tends toward perfection by means of the geometric rigour of volumes defined by line and sculpted by light. Mapplethorpe’s own words explicitly state his thought in this regard: “I look for perfection in form … I am trying to capture what could be sculpture”.


“Mapplethorpe had appreciated contemporary art, but his real love had been for Old Master works, particularly sculpture. … He had strived to capture in his photography the perfection of form that he perceived in the works of Michelangelo and other Renaissance masters” (Michael Ward Stout, President of the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation).

Moreover, the photographer himself confessed his fascination for the art of Michelangelo, even stating: “If I had been born one hundred or two hundred years ago, I might have been a sculptor, but photography is a very quick way to see, to make sculpture”. And further on, “I see things like sculpture. … It’s about how that form sits in space and I think that kind of approach comes from my … art historical training.”.

The material presented in the exhibit is grouped into four sections: Geometry of Form, Fragment as Form, Repeating Form, and Sculptural Form.


The works on show overall number 111, including Michelangelo’s sculptures and drawings, as integrating parts of the terms of comparison. The 93 works by Mapplethorpe come from the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation.

All works copyright © Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. Used by Permission.
Read more of Mapplethorpe exhibition and see more of his photographs on the website unannoadarte
And here are some good news for you: The exhibition has been extended until January 10, 2010!

Comments

mrurbano said…
Oh yes, this looks like a formidable exhibit!
thanks for sharing!
Vedres Ági said…
I'm happy to see it, thanks Paolo.
tatiana said…
A giant photographer !
Mikael said…
Well presented Paolo