SOMAINI. RESTLESS GARDENS: the philosophy of landscape

To mark the centenary of the birth of Francesco Somaini, one of the leading international figures in 20th-century sculpture, the CASVA - Centre for Advanced Studies in the Visual Arts by Milan is hosting the exhibition SOMAINI. RESTLESS GARDENS: the philosophy of landscape. The exhibition, curated by Fulvio Irace in collaboration with the Francesco Somaini Sculptor Foundation ETS, features around a hundred works from the’Somaini Archive, including drawings, documents, photographs, photo-collages, photomontages, models and sculptures created between 1965 and 1999.

The exhibition itinerary allows visitors to trace the evolution of the artist’s original creative workshop, characterised by a profound reflection on the environment from the perspective of total ecology. The project continues to explore nature and the landscape in relation to the urban context, offering insights into key issues concerning the critique of the consumer city. From the decision to settle in Lomazzo right through to major projects for Milansuch as the Largo Marinai d’Italia Garden and the proposals for the Green Spines, the exhibition traces iconic projects and international experiments developed at Mantua, Duisburg, Lucca e Paris. Particular emphasis is placed on the section devoted to the regeneration of the site of the former Verziere, setting out a vision for a new form of public garden conceived as an integrated community space.