The fourth edition of the Florence International Biennale of Contemporary Art is to be held, as always, at the historic Medici fortress Fortezza da Basso from 6 -14 December 2003.
The artists are selected by an International Scientific Committee without prejudice towards style, school or trend. Indeed they are chosen for their innovative, creative work and, as with all Contemporary Art, this is demonstrated via various media of painting, sculpture, graphic art, installation art or photography, to name but a few.
The idea of creating a Florentine International Biennale of Contemporary Art eight years ago was that of Arte Studio, with the brothers Pasquale and Piero Celona, at the forefront of this project and they continue to play a fundamental role.
Indeed, Dr. John T. Spike, art critic and historian, is once again the Artistic Director and along with the International Jury: Barbara Rose, Veronika Birke, David Rubin, Stefano Francolini, Matty Roca, Teresa Ortega Coca and Dore Ashton, will nominate artists for the prizes to be awarded. John T. Spike indeed states “that with the Florentine Biennale worldwide artistic expression is promoted through Contemporary Art”.
This year’s edition also has the official approval of the UN with a program entitled “Dialogues between Civilizations” being an underlying theme of the Florentine Biennale .
The fourth edition of the Florence International Biennale of Contemporary Art pays homage to Ferrari, symbol of the Italian creativity and engineering prowess, and will exhibit drawings and models from "la scuderia di Maranello" at the Fortezza.
The Conservation Department of the Vatican Museums will also be represented at the Biennale – showing the great tradition, and the competency of, a vital part of Italian heritage.
The Florentine Biennale joins together all forms of culture along with the practical talent of more than 800 artists exhibiting at the Fortezza – an exciting program of performances and conferences, concerts and special events runs parellel with this Exhibition.
Furthermore, the Biennale also has exhibits throughout the historic center of Florence with Frederick J. Eversely exhibiting an exquisit sculpture in Piazza della Repubblica.
Daniele da Volterra, friend of Michelangelo
1 October 2003-12 January 2004
This exhibition explores the artistic and biographical significance of the deep friendship tha grew up in Rome between Dainele da Volterra and Michelangelo in the last years of the master’s life.
For far long Daniele has suffered from the nickname “braghettone”, earned by his overpaing of some of the nudities in Michelangelo’s Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel; but it was Daniele’s work that saved Michelangelo’s masterpiece from destruction in a period of puritanical excess.
In fact, Daniele was an an important artist: a painter in panel and fresco, and expert stuccatore, he was also a subtle portraitist and one of the most important sculptors of his generation. Surprisingly, he has not been the subject of a monographic exhibition and that organised by the Casa Buonarroti it both a novely and a revelation. Danile’s career is presented in the exhibition by a rich group of his paintings, rare and generally of excellent quality, an anthology of his superb drawings borrowed from museums throughout Europe, and by a selective averiew of his work in marble and bronze.
