Rome's post-war art scene on display
Over 30 paintings and sculptures by Italian artists including Carla Accardi and Afro Basaldella are on display in the “Roma 1950-1965” exhibition at Prada Rong Zhai.
The exhibition, organized by Fondazione Prada, explores the cultural and art scene that developed in Rome during the period after World War II.
In Italy from the mid-1940s, innovation was embodied from a literary and cinematographic perspective through the neorealist movement, represented by film directors and writers such as Roberto Rossellini and Elio Vittorini.
In the art scene, Forma, Origine, the Gruppo Degli Otto and the Fronte Nuovo delle Arti were primarily Roman groups and movements from which essential figures for the development of Italian art in the following decades emerged.
A highlight of the exhibition is Ettore Colla’s use of waste materials such as iron and wood for sculptures with beautiful curves and shapes.
Another highlight is a canvas created by Piero Dorazio in the Forma style. What appears to be a monochrome tableau is actually conjured up by different layers of colors and brushstrokes.
Also on exhibit is an important collection of documents from those years, including photographs and original publications.
Besides the exhibition itself, the venue is also worth visiting. Built in 1918, Rong Zhai reopened in 2017 following restoration that returned the building to its original splendor.
Exhibition details
Date: Through May 27 (closed on Mondays), 10am-8pm
Venue: Prada Rong Zhai
Address: 186 Shaanxi Rd N.
