The Breast and the Artists. The Exhibition in Venice ACP Palazzo Franchetti. – Carlo Franza’s Blog

In Venice ACP Franchett PalaceI host Breasts until November 24, 2024 a collective exhibition curated by Carolina Meals. On display thirty artists propose different interpretations of the breastof his quality and representationstracing a chronological and thematic path and highlighting the multiplicity of points of view and media the heterogeneity of bodies and identities.

Breasts will showcase the works of over thirty emerging and established artists from around the world, spanning the fields of painting, sculpture, photography and film from 1500 to the present day. The works on display explore how the breast has been understood and represented in art across different cultures and traditions. Reflecting on a range of themes from motherhood to empowerment, sexuality to body image and illness, the presentation explores how the breast acts as a catalyst to discuss socio-political realities, challenge historical traditions, and express personal and collective identities. The mission is to promote breast cancer awareness to a wider audience through the medium of art.

The exhibition is divided into five chapters arranged in the rooms on the main floor of the palace, accessible through an engaging and site-specific entrance designed by Studio Buchanan.

The first room examines the historical representation of the breast and the construction of narratives related to the female body, highlighting how modern and contemporary artists have intervened in these consolidated preconceptions. The focus of this exploration is on the Renaissance Masters, specifically examining the iconography of the Madonna del Latte. This iconic representation not only influenced the ‘Portraits of History’ of Cindy Shermanbut also highlights how contemporary artists such as Richard Dupont, Teniqua Clementine Crawford And Sherrie Levine incorporate Renaissance elements into their figurative paintings.

In the second room, Pasti explores the breast as inspiration for sculptural practicesThe space features a multimedia artwork by Marcel Duchamp, Prière de toucher (Please touch)which features a foam breast attached to the cover of the book Le Surréalisme en 1947. Also wearable chest plates from Claude Lalanne will be exhibited and will act as fashion items, next to the mannequin of Allen Jones which evokes historical precedents such as armour and religious vestments. Prune Nourrydiagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and author of a film that documents her treatment journey, will present a sculpture of a breast. Through the lens of photography, the third room examines the impact of digital media on the representation of the breast. Surrealist photography Of Robert Mapplethorpe And Irving Penn explores symbolic and unconventional representations that go beyond traditional and literal manifestations. Instead, they employ dreamlike, symbolic or abstract elements to evoke subconscious emotions. Sometimes the breast was depicted as mysterious landscapes or abstract forms, detached from their usual context. The intent was to evoke wonder, desire or discomfort, prompting viewers to question conventional perceptions of the human body and sexuality.

The third room also shows how the breast has been used as a commercial device in marketing and advertising, with sexual allure emerging as a common tactic to promote products.i. This room delves into how fashion photographers, including Oliver Toscanihave challenged and subverted the conventional role of advertising, intentionally creating a sense of unease and confusion. The work of Hsu Che-yu blurs the line between reality and the digital world, with a subtle reference to the pervasive nature of pornography.

The fourth room features artists who fragment, abstract and deconstruct the breast in their art, establishing connections with consumer culture, materialism and contemporary society. Two distinctive themes emerge in this space. Play emerges as a distinctive theme, challenging the male gaze and reclaiming its representation. Infusing a sense of humor, artists challenge rigid notions regarding the female form, disrupting conventional ideals, which leads to a broader conversation about body positivity and self-acceptance. Artists including Chloe Wise, Sarah Lucas, Louise Bourgeois, Laure Prouvost And Aurora Pelizza contribute to a conversation about identity, consumer culture, and the evolving representation of the breast in art.

The last room features a film of Laure Prouvost titled “Four For See Beauties“. Shot in 2022, the fifteen-minute film depicts three women and the artist’s newborn baby alongside a series of sea creatures that recall the stages of human life transformation.

Carlo Franza