Mario Merz. Balla, Carrà, de Chirico, de Pisis, Morandi, Savinio, Severini.
Roma 1978. Mostre in mostra
edited by Daniela Lancioni
The catalogue accompanies the second edition of the Mostre in mostra cycle in which the Palazzo delle Esposizioni proposes a reconstruction of some of the most significant exhibitions that have characterised the artistic panorama in Rome since the second half of the 20th century. This second edition revisits the exhibition entitled “Mario Merz. Balla, Carrà, de Chirico, de Pisis, Morandi, Savinio, Severini” that opened in the historic Galleria dell’Oca in Rome on 15 March 1978, the product of a collaborative effort between the gallery’s founder, Luisa Laureati Briganti, and gallery owners Luciano Pistoi and Gian Enzo Sperone.
Considered one of the milestones in the history of contemporary exhibitions, the exhibition was striking for its – at the time – highly unusual pairing of work by Mario Merz, a leading figure in the Arte Povera movement, with work by the most important Italian artists of the 20th century.
The catalogue contains an essay by the curator, Daniela Lancioni, exploring the thinking behind the 1978 exhibition and the importance of its present-day revisitation; a letter from Gian Enzo Sperone; the original reviews of the exhibition penned by critics Achille Bonito Oliva, Mario Novi, Paolo Boccacci, Enzo Siciliano and Umberto Sala; an essay by Francesco Guzzetti focusing on the work of Mario Merz; an entry by Paola Bonani discussing the works of the 20th century masters; and a timeline drafted by Giulia Lotti covering the every one of the exhibitions held at the Galleria dell’Oca from its opening in 1965 until it closed down in 2008.
Mario Merz. Balla, Carrà, de Chirico, de Pisis, Morandi, Savinio, Severini. Roma 1978. Mostre in mostra
edited by Daniela Lancioni
Edizioni Azienda Speciale Palaexpo
170 x 240 mm., pp. 160
54 illustrations, of which 20 are colour plates
paperback with flaps
bilingual publication in Italian and English
ISBN 978-8888-346120
€ 15,00
The catalogue is on sale in the Palazzo delle Esposizioni bookshop. Copies may be reserved by writing to:
