A reflection on the post-pandemic Renaissance of art fairs and shows in 2022: Arte Fiera

Earlier this year the third edition of Arte Fiera under the artistic direction of Simone Menegoi could finally go back to the in-person operating mode again, after two and a half years of forced closure and suspension. The 45th edition of the fair, organised by Bologna Fiere, has welcome over 25,000 visitors over three busy days of exhibited artworks, special projects, a dense schedule of public programme, awards and performances animating the Bologna Fair District between 13-15 May 2022.
Arte Fiera presented 142 – mainly Italian – galleries: 103 in the Main Section and 39 in the curated and invitation sections (Focus, Pittura XXI, Photography and moving images).

This year’s edition of Arte Fiera has marked not only a fresh start for the event welcoming professionals and art-lovers back to a physical space, but it was also characterised by a major reorganisation of its schedule, moving from the traditional late-January dates to the unusual mid-May timeframe. The calendar change didn’t overlap with similar established events, however it caused logistics and operations issues, as lamented by many exhibitors. That was due both to other product markets busy activity at the Bologna Fiere district and most of all to the shortage of skilled staff working to the Fair, as many specialised technicians tested positive to Covid in the lead-up to the opening days. Personally, I enjoyed the new spring calendar as I particularly favoured the combination of summery weather with the artistic offer as well as the good vibe around the city of Bologna. It is undeniable though that the traditional positioning at a recognised time of the year is part of the overall reputation and appeal for any major events and it seems inevitable that the Fair will resume its traditional schedule as from next year.

One of the most positive aspects of this year’s Fair has been the great care of the curatorial choices from the majority of the exhibiting galleries. Vistamare Gallery, the Winner of the Arte e Progetto Prize, is one of the most brilliant examples of the careful juxtaposition of photography, painting and installations, creating a consistent and ethereal ensemble as well as a very elegant combination. The black and white photos by Mimmo Iodice and the light blue dreamlike paintings by Spalletti are interlaced with Mario Airò‘s coloured diapasons, making it one of one the most refined and effective displays of the fair.

Another successful project was presented by Lugano’s Ravizza Gallery together with Berlin’s Volker Diehl Galerie. The gallery duo recreated late painter and sculptor Gunter Weseler‘s studio within the fair space, using the artsist’s personal furniture such as his desk and armchair, covered with white fur. The project reproduces his “Breathing Objects“, responding to the artist’s lifelong research on the phenomenon of breathing. He suffered from a throat illness that led him to be particularly aware of the breathing function and to investigate on the difficulties and effort of this vital action.

A remarkable display and my personal favourite was It Slips and Falls and is Reborn, the new project from Canadian artist Fiona Annis, showcasing her work at Gallerie Riunite Gallery within the Photography and moving images section. Now in its third edition, this special part of the fair was curated by the Fantom platform (Selva Barni, Benedetta Pomini, Ilaria Speri, Massimo Torrigiani and Francesco Zanot). Fiona Annis (pictured above in front of one of her creations) explores the mysterious aspects of photography integrating elements of chemistry, process, archaic materials and practice. Her reflection on the fragility of life is echoed through her use of the language of light and time, taking flawed or failed artifacts as the starting point for the reconfiguration of errors as generative forces. In the series Hesitation Lines various gesture are inscribed onto the surface of the silver gelatine paper creating fractures and colour fields that recount new histories of creation and disruption and reveal the dualism error-new possibility.

Antonia Jannone Gallery, one of the shortlisted galleries for the Arte e Progetto Prize, presented works by architect and artists Marco Palmieri. In his photographic works “VARIAZIONI” he creates spatial concepts through the use of simple geometric elements that are reminescent of Morandi’s figurative subjects. His creative process explores the initial spacial idea and redefines it through a set of serial artworks combining forms, light and colour.

In his series Mappe the artist investigates the potential of photography to underpin personal relational dynamics through the rearrangement of the spatial elements of the picture in diferent positions. His approach focuses on the creation of overhead shots depicting the individual geometrical elements, so that the different prospectives remind of the range of possibilities within realtionships.

The next edition of Arte Fiera will be held from 3 to 5 February 2023, making it a reinstatement of the traditional dates at the beginning of each year.