An interdisciplinary project for the study and documentation of complex installations has started in Italy in November 2006. The Cimac (Civico Museo d'Arte Contemporanea/Museo del Novecento) of Milan and the MAXXI (Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo) of Rome, partner in the initiative, have involved curators, art-historians, restorers and architects for elaborating a model for the documentation of art-works of the Cimac. The model contains an introduction to the artist considered and to the history of the work itself, and the analysis of the installation in its material and conceptual complexity.The project is coordinated by Marina Pugliese, curator of the Cimac, with restorer Barbara Ferriani.
Up to now the group has nearly finished the first phase of the documentation of the work "Coma" (2001), by the Russian artist Alexander Brodsky, particularly interesting for the use of different materials, such as raw clay, iron, video, oil, as well as for its performative content.
The preliminary research has been conducted on the basis of literature about Brodsky and of archive documents. On a technical side, after the completion of an elaborate condition report, the next phase will be the restoration and the completion of the lacking parts and the exhibition of the installation.
The next case study will be "Il Vapore" (1975), by Bill Viola, property of the MAXXI.
A further part of the project foresees the documentation of installations belonging to other Italian institutions.
Contact: marina.pugliese@comune.milano.it