Nico Vascellari’s exhibition, MELMA, takes centre stage at Forte Belvedere this summer, showcasing a comprehensive exploration of his diverse artistic endeavours through October 3. Through various media, including videos, sculptures, collage, installations and sound, the Veneto-born artist challenges societal norms while bridging the gap between Renaissance and contemporary art in Florence.
Following the outstanding exhibitions of Jan Fabre, Giuseppe Penone, Antony Gormley and Eliseo Mattiacci, hidden behind the ramparts of Forte Belvedere, the stronghold devotes itself entirely once more to the captivating works of a single artist. Central themes encompass the relationship between humanity and nature, intertwining the personal dimension with the collective one, as well as the interplay between existence and transcendence. The exhibition at Forte Belvedere showcases a carefully selected collection of previously unseen works specially conceived for this occasion. Creating a contradictory atmosphere, the exterior of the fortress hosts nine aluminium sculptures placed on the ramparts bestowing a futuristic aspect on the landscape of Florence’s historical city centre below, along with two videos exhibited inside the artillery room. Meanwhile, the interior halls are filled with an exhibition comprising over 30 works, all of which capture a brutalist aspect of the interconnection between man and nature. The captivating show is an undeniably unique experience for those who visit as Vascellari’s unusual visual and auditory art spread throughout the 16th-century fortress, creating a grasping, must-see atmosphere.
Nico Vascellari. Melma.
Installation view della mostra, Forte Belvedere Firenze, 2023
Ph. Ela Bialkowska OKNO studio
Courtesy of Museo Novecento Firenze
Nico Vascellari. Melma.
Installation view della mostra, Forte Belvedere Firenze, 2023
Ph. Ela Bialkowska OKNO studio
Courtesy of Museo Novecento Firenze
Nico Vascellari. Melma.
Installation view della mostra, Forte Belvedere Firenze, 2023
Ph. Ela Bialkowska OKNO studio
Courtesy of Museo Novecento Firenze
In October, the MELMA exhibition will continue to unfold in some of Florence’s most renowned art spaces. Highlights will include a poetic installation called Fioretti outside the Palazzo Vecchio as well as a site-specific performance, Alessio, by the artist in the Salone dei Cinquecento on October 3. Nico Vascellari’s video artworks will also be displayed in the Museo Novecento in piazza Santa Maria Novella.
