“Roberto Papini Works 1952 – 2011” exhibition

Ancona, Mole Vanvitelliana
16 December 2011- 31 January 2012

Promoted by: Museo Tattile Statale Omero, Comune di Ancona.
Patrons: Provincia di Ancona, Regione Marche.
Scientific committee: Marilena Pasquali (President), Roberto Farroni (Vice-president), Aldo Grassini (Vice-president), Walter Angelici, Daniela Bottegoni, Massimo Di Matteo, Walter Paoletti.
Coordinators: Aldo Grassini, Walter Paoletti.
Catalogue and exhibition curator: Marilena Pasquali.

The exhibition, which was inaugurated in the Museo Omero's new galleries at the Mole Vanvitelliana on 16 December (5pm), is a richly deserved tribute to Roberto Papini and his prolific creativity. This is the first exhibition dedicated entirely to this ninety-year old artist from Ancona and the curator, Marilena Pasquali, has selected 80 or so works to illustrate and explore the 60 years of his artistic development, offering an ample cross-section which focusses on characters, developments and achievements

The clearly defined cycles in his work are related to each other and the works are grouped chronologically, starting from his early landscapes, "Paesaggi" (1952-1959). Following on are the "Soli" ad impasto materico (1960 - 1967), the musical "Pentagrammi" (1968 - 1975) and the mystical "Soli and Tavole della Legge" (1968 −1980). Next are his fret-worked "Labirinti", in their early fractal phase (1974 - 1985) and in their evolution towards the object "Verso l'Oggetto" (1980 - 1990) and, finally, the rhythmical "Ritmi di Oggetti" which he started making in the 1990s and his most recent works, three-dimensional ready mades.

Works kindly loaned by: Roberto Papini, Museo Tattile Statale Omero, Pinacoteca Civica F. Podesti, Collezione Grassini Bottegoni, Collezione Sbaffi Pancioni.

Roberto Farroni, the first president of the Museo Omero who died at the age of 58 last October, had long wished to dedicate an anthological exhibition to Papini - a solitary and challenging painter whose works, many of which are on show for the first time, capture the eye and the mind mainly through their visual and semantic stratification. His deliberate decision to remain outside the 'artistic' world and his indifference to any historic-critical cataloging of his work, arise from his conviction that any value his works (and indeed his life's work as a whole) possess derives mainly from their capacity to manifest the spirituality underpinning them, a spirituality that never wavers and nourishes thought and faith through images; a place of meditation and growth.

Marilena Pasquali curator of the exhibition and the catalogue.

"Entering the studio where the painter has worked for more than fifty years is like diving into a continuous visual flow, a merry-go-round of forms, materials and colours, a place for the eye where every image refers to and questions those surrounding it, answering, pressing, clarifying them. In the whirling space of the studio there are no quiet corners, intervals, silences; or, rather, each pause - as in music - introduces new levels of imagination, fresh presences which seem to seem to spring effortlessly from the preceding ones, in a continuum of inspiration and representative will".

Exhibition design

The architect Massimo Di Matteo has designed a clear-cut, understated environment, where the layout leads the visitor through the various languages of form and substance employed by Papini's irrepressible and un-cataloguable creativity.

Accessibility

A selection of works in the exhibition can also be explored by touch: an experience which should not be missed even by those who consider that artistic enjoyment is purely linked to vision. As Aldo Grassini writes: "The works of Roberto Papini are a goldmine of surprises and pleasurable sensations for the hands which touch them". The Braille aids were created by Daniela Bottegoni and Massimiliano Trubbiani.

Catalogue

The exhaustive catalogue, designed by Walter Angelici and Lucia Alfieri, with photos by Gaetano Apicella, has colour reproductions of all the works on show. The introduction, with a biography and critical essay on Papini, is by Marilena Pasquali. There are also critical essays by Roberto Cresti and Aldo Grassini, president of the Museo Omero as well as introductory pieces by Fiorello Gramillano, Sindaco del Comune di Ancona and Andrea Nobili, assessore, Walter Angelici and from the Associazione Culturale Galleria Puccini. The Museo Omero Educational Services have also contributed to the catalogue with their "Perché Papini nella didattica dell'arte? Attività laboratoriali proposte in mostra".
Pages: 240 including 186 in colour. Format: 26 x 28 cm. Cost: 18 euros. Museo Omero Edizioni. The catalogue is available in Braille for free.

Special Initiatives

A new workshop, "Quadro d'Autore!", for families and children aged 5 to 12 will be held on the following Sundays: 18 December 2011, 8 and 15 January 2012. Children will be introduced into the artist's world and his house/workshop by means of a tactile story and can then have a go at creating a work "alla Papini".

Sunday 29 January 2012: "Papini at your finger-tips", a guided visit for adults and the non-sighted.
The exhibition also features the "Officina" area where visitors can help create a large picture from the materials provided. Everyone's creative contribution will be greatly appreciated.
These initiatives are also suitable for groups and schools. Visits and workshops must be booked in advance and there is a small fee (free for the disabled).

Information

Open: Tuesdays to Sundays: 4 - 7 pm.
Closed: Mondays, 25 and 31 December, 1 January.
Special holiday opening: Monday 26 December and 2 January. Groups and schools can book morning visits.
Free admission.
Where: Ancona, Mole Vanvitelliana, Via Banchina da Chio 28.
Guided visit: 7 euros per person (children under 5 free). Discount for groups/families (from 4 to 60 people): 3,50 euros per person.
Guided visit and workshop: 10 euros per person (children under 5 free). Discount for groups/families (from 4 to 60 people): €6 per person.
Free for: non-sighted, partially-sighted, disabled visitors and their helpers, children aged 0 to 4.
Schools: Workshops €5 per pupil including a little souvenier; disabled pupils, helpers and teachers free.
Learning services and guided visits: Manuela Alessandrini, Monica Bernacchia, Cristiana Carlini, Maria Giulia Cester, Lucrezia Curci, Francesca Graziani, Chiara Monina, Andrea Socrati, Annalisa Trasatti, Massimiliano Trubbiani (Museo Tattile Statale Omero). Chiara Ludolini, Giulia Pagoni, Giulia Sampaolesi, Donata Vicedomini (Volunteers from the Servizio Civile Nazionale). Thomas Kestelin and Alessia Sanges (Volunteers from the Servizio Europeo SVE).
For bookings and info on visits and workshops: tel. 071 28 11 935 - email: info@museoomero.it

Communication and Press Office: "Economia & Cultura" - Gabriella Papini, tel. 071200648 - email: cultura@gabriellapapini.com. Museo Tattile Statale Omero - Monica Bernacchia tel. 071 2811935 email monica.bernacchia@museoomero.it.