Luogo e Segni (Places and Dreams)...

6:51 p.m.

12/07/19 - Punta Della Dogana is currently presenting an exhibition with artworks belonging (almost (exclusively) to the private collection of Francois Pinault. In previous occasions, this art philanthropist (as his mother before him), summoned museums and collectors to be part of the annual exhibition housed at his venue. This one is eclectic, although the curators linked the artists with the works of writer Etel Adnan, because they related to her poems, connecting them also with the elements of Nature, the variations of the weather and the wind of the sea (its sounds and fragrances).

To begin the visit, one must go through Félix González Torres' curtain, with thousands of red and white beads, emulating blood cells.

Untitled (Blood), by Félix González-Torres (1992)

The first gallery is entirely dedicated to an organic installation by Hicham Berrada (Morocco, 1986), which combines art and science. A series of acrylic boxes contain jasmine plants in atmospheric conditions. Against the natural Circadian rhythm, during the day the plants show all their splendor, because they are surrounded by darkness. Later, at night, they receive the necessary light for their photosynthesis.

Mesk-Ellil, by Hicham Berrada (2015-2019)

The space designed by Japanese architect Tao Ando is entirely occuppied, in perfect harmony, by Roni Horn's (USA, 1955) cylinders. Well and Truly is made of 10 glass blocks in different shades of blue. We walk around each of the pillars and experience how the light reflects on their traslucid surface.

Well and Truly, by Roni Horn (2009-2010)

In a small gallery we find the repetition of Félix Gonzalez Torres' America America, which is made of a series of lightbulbs and electric cables. This repetition belongs to Elaine Sturtevant (USA, 1930 – 2014) whose artworks are entirely composed of images or pieces borrowed from those artist that left a mark in the history of the 20th century, such as Duchamp and Warhol.

America America - Felix Gonzalez Torres, by Elaine Sturtevant (2004)

Materials: light bulbs and electric cables / Variable measures

The most poetic installation is that of Nina Canell, which occupies Gallery 7: a series of ceramic pieces, covered in water to their edges, that look deeply mysterious. It's hard to understand how the liquid does not spill. The sign explains that each piece received an hydrophobic cover that keeps the water from moving.

The ephemeral delicacy of Days of Inertia has the perfect poetic tone that the curators were looking for.

Days of Inertia, de Nina Canell (2015)

Tatiana Trouvé (1968) surprises with a piece made with found objects: an intervention of the typical chair used by the security personnel. The installation was even placed in the exact spot where these chairs can usually be found, that's why we are at first puzzled. The label of the artwork comes to our rescue, revealing its title: The Guardian.

The Guardian, by Tatiana Trouvé (2018)

With Cerith Wyn Evans' (UK, 1958) big lamp we conclude our visit to Luogo e Segni. This chandelier vibrates almost imperceptibly, according to the transcription of literary texts in Morse code.