{"id":753,"date":"2019-08-01T23:01:16","date_gmt":"2019-08-01T23:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hashtagart.blog\/?p=753"},"modified":"2025-03-01T16:53:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-01T16:53:15","slug":"stirring-or-nightmarish-a-review-of-dream-exhibition-at-chiostrodelbramante","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hashtagart.blog\/?p=753","title":{"rendered":"Stirring or Nightmarish?\u00a0A \u200bReview of “Dream” Exhibition at Chiostro del Bramante"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shibboleth, delusion, and contemporary art in Bramante’s XVI century cloister.<\/span><\/p>\n

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[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Whdce1kOxl8&w=560&h=315]<\/span><\/p>\n

Until 25th August 2019, contemporary dreams reside in an XVI century cloister<\/strong>. The Chiostro del Bramante<\/a><\/span>, designed by High-Renaissance master Donato Bramante<\/strong>, plays host to Dream. Art meets dreams<\/em>, an exhibition described<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>as \u201cA theme that becomes a journey, discovery, knowledge, emotion: the dream<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pokemon Explore Sticker<\/a>\u00a0by<\/span> <\/span><\/em>@warnerbrosde<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yet it’s more than just a dream<\/strong>.\u00a0Dream<\/em>\u00a0is the final part of a trilogy<\/strong> dedicated to “the relationship between art and emotional states<\/span><\/strong>“, as pointed out by<\/span>\u00a0Riccardo Bianchini.<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0The previously featured exhibitions were “focused on love (LOVE, Contemporary art meets amour, 2016), and enjoyment (ENJOY. Art meets amusement, 2017).\u201d The choice of dreams as the third theme promised an attractive opportunity<\/strong> to highlight the issues of postmodernity, spirituality, and technology<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dream Floating GIF. Found on<\/span> GIPHY<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The dream is the liberation of the spirit from the pressure of external nature<\/strong>, a detachment of the soul<\/strong> from the fetters of matter<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u2015 Sigmund Freud, <\/span>The Interpretation of Dreams<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dreams remain one of the last elements of life contained in the sphere of what’s enigmatic and magical<\/strong>. Adding some of the Freudian theory to the overall experience of the exhibition would definitely enhance the visitors’ experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But it’s tricky to find Freud in Dream<\/em> (except for the bookshop).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It seems that Dream<\/em> is not really about the<\/em> dreams.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Dream<\/em>\u00a0is the representation of the idea of the dream<\/strong>, another dimension that transcends the physical<\/strong> nature of perception to enter the territory of emotion<\/strong>, of enchantment, of poetry<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

says<\/a>\u00a0Danilo Eccher<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, an art critic<\/strong> and the Director of the Galleria Civica d\u2019Arte Moderna e Contemporane<\/a>a.\u00a0<\/span>Dream <\/em>is Eccher’s brainchild, <\/strong>as he is as well a curator<\/strong> specializing in contemporary art.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Let’s give dreams a chance.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dream Dreaming GIF. Found on GIPHY<\/a><\/span>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We start in the cloister<\/strong>. The audioguide<\/strong> is an essential part of the exhibition, as I am told while being handed in the ticket. But here comes the first surprise. <\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of information on artists, spaces, or artworks<\/strong>, I’m listening to what seems to be a pretty amateur medium or a teenage fantasy\/thriller novel<\/strong>. The audioguide is a set of unrelated stories, where female and male voices recall unrealistic adventures while being surprisingly into it<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cool<\/strong>, but I would expect something more professional. The audioguide could be easily separated from the exhibition<\/strong> and neither would lose much of its contextualization<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We are inside the museum\u00a0now. Darkness.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There’s a woman. Or, rather, a slow-motion video of a woman underwater<\/strong>. Bill Viola<\/a><\/span>‘s Sharon<\/em> (2013) is one of a series of underwater portraits<\/strong> of men and women. This\u00a0audio-visual<\/strong> work (the movements<\/strong> of fabric and bubbles are accompanied by water<\/strong>-related sounds<\/strong>) illuminates the darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Bill Viola. Sharon<\/em> (2013). Photo by Natalia Stanusch.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The space adds a layer of anxiety to this well-curated piece<\/strong>. Darkness enhances the ambiance of intimacy<\/strong>. The pureness of the animation<\/strong> makes one question whether the screen is not a glass wall<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photography Reflection<\/a><\/span>\u00a0GIF by John Fogarty<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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You cannot touch it. Without the physical touch, how can you know she’s\u00a0an actual person being underwater<\/strong> on the other side of the window<\/strong>?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"John_Everett_Millais_-_Ophelia_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg\"
John Everett Millais Ophelia<\/em>. TATE<\/a><\/span> museum. Image from Wikipedia<\/a><\/span>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The elegance and peacefulness<\/strong> of a closed-eyed woman surrounded by water echo John Everett Millais’ Ophelia. <\/em>The only difference is that now it’s a screen, not canvas<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Astral Projection Goodbye<\/a><\/span> GIF by Trippyogi<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This change of medium reflects the technological advancement<\/strong>, but also it breaks down the existence of a paradox of distance<\/strong>. \u00a0 Can you identify yourself with the woman on the screen? <\/span><\/p>\n

She can be anyone, just like any Instagram user<\/strong> you could follow. She, just like digital users, are at the reach of your hand, but you cannot touch them. She is drowning in the digital layer<\/strong>, highlighting the absurdity of the screen distance<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

None of these issues are mentioned<\/strong>\u00a0in the audioguide or in the short description\u00a0opposite to the artwork. Pity. <\/span><\/p>\n

Thankfully, Sharon<\/em> can speak for herself.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After swinging among many site-specific and decent works<\/strong>, there’s a major attraction<\/strong>. The only piece that was so<\/em> engaging<\/span>\u00a0and not that<\/em> original. The golden rain, or rather, the Instagram time<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#chiostrodream<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/L89jBSnMJE<\/a><\/p>\n

— Giulia (@bluofficinalis) April 1, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n