4th Cramum Prize & Who does Contemporary Art speak to? (original title A chi parla l’arte contemporanea?)

At Palazzo Isimbardi (Milan), from 10th to 20th May, 2016, cramum Association and Giorgio Pardi Foundation present the collective exhibition “A chi parla l’arte contemporanea?” (Who does #contemporaryart speak to?), heart of the 4th cramum Prize thought by Sabino Maria Frassà together with Andi Kacziba.

“Who do we speak to everyday? Who do Culture and #contemporaryart speak to? These are days when young people’s uneasiness becomes clear. It finds expression in a strong identity crisis and in a growing desire to be understood and communicate in a world that is getting more and more unstable and complex.” Says Sabino Maria Frassà, General Secretary at Giorgio Pardi Foundation & Creative Director at Cramum. “The 25 works exhibited tell how difficult it is to communicate in a world so rich in information, where speed and first impression play a more and more important role. The difficulty grows when #contemporaryart is to be approached. The cramum prize faces this problem and tries to give voice to the best young artists in Italy. Their works are exhibited near the ones of better known artists and they are given the chance to improve their artistic talents not only through exhibitions and catalogues, but also through coaching and contacts”.

This year, internationally renowned artists such as Ulla von Brandenburg, Szilárd Cseke, Emilio Isgrò, Andi Kacziba, Lin Ylin, Urs Luthi, Luigi Presicce, Laura de Santillana, Paolo Peroni, Francesca Piovesan have been placed side by side with 10 under-36 artists (prize finalists) who are starting their artistic career with cramum Association. They are Gianluca Brando, Gianni Colangelo, Max Coppeta, Flora Deborah, Donatella De Rosa, Isabella Fabbri, Matteo Fato, Fabrizio Milani, Giuliana Storino, Kwanghoo Han. Among them, on the opening day ( 10th May) , the panel of judges will vote the winner who will have two years to prepare his/her own personal exhibition in Milan.

“A chi parla l’arte contemporanea?” is realised thanks to the collaboration of cramum Association, Giorgio Pardi Foundation and Milan Città Metropolitana, Comune di Milano, Edicola Italiana, Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano, Studio Museum Francesco Messina and Istituto Confucio of Milan University.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a valuable issue published by SKIRAA and edited by Sabino Maria Frassà, entitled “A chi parla l’arte contemporanea?”.

The book does not only collect the works exhibited but also critical reflections by members of the Jury, including Nushin Elahi (editor from South Africa), Katie Hill (Oxford University Professor), Angela Madesani (academic at IED and BREA), Alba Solaro (journalist) and Nicla Vassallo (Genoa University Philosopher).

Some passages from the book

“ #contemporaryart at its best is like pizza: everybody likes it.” Alba Solaro

" The most successful artists in today's global network are those who communicate their work most effectively, cutting across traditional boundaries and pushing through the elite structures of a closed 'art world”. Katie Hill

“Contemporary art is all about that elusive moment of connection between artist and audience that so many seek, and so few find.” Nushin Elahi

“The apathy of the new generations cannot be fought with intellectualism, the impoverishment or the simplification of artistic creativity. The true weapon is the systemic will and the pleasure to tell art to everyone in different ways. ” Sabino Maria Frassà

“Not everybody can understand art immediately but we must guarantee everyone the possibility to approach it, in any possible way. The artist and the intellectual have the honour and the duty to transmit art and culture not only to create it”. Nicla Vassallo

“Who does #contemporaryart talk to? To a very small section of the world population. And it has always been so. Most people do not even know that art exists.” Angela Madesani

The following are the 10 internationally renowned artists selected by the organiser , Sabino Maria Frassà,:

Ulla von Brandenburg, German artist (Venice Biennale, 2009), focuses her artistic research on the difficulty to trace her identity;

Szilárd Cseke, Hungarian artist (Venice Biennale, 2015), investigates the role of economy and globalization in contemporary society;

Emilio Isgrò, conceptual artist, among the most famous in Italy, has taken part in numerous Venice Biennali (1972, 1978, 1986,1993);

Andi Kacziba, Hungarian artist, examines the role of women with her textile sculptures;

Lin Ylin, Chinese artist (Venice Biennale, 2015), thinks that art has a social role as stimulus and catalyst of change.

Urs Luthi, Swiss artist (Venice Biennale,2001), has made his body the subject and object of his own artistic reflection;

Luigi Presicce, Italian artist, famous for his performances which are reflections about art and painting;

Laura de Santillana, Italian artist (Venice Biennale, 2009), world famous for her glass sculptures that reflect the vacuity of human existence;

Paolo Peroni, winner of cramum prize in 2014, has always been thinking about the difficult balance and dialogue between man and the world, which he transforms to live in it.

Francesca Piovesan, winner of cramum prize 2015, focuses her work on time and her own transformation.

The cramum Prize

Cramum is a Latin word which means cream, the best part of milk. The cramum prize was thought by Andi Kacziba and Sabino Maria Frassà in 2012 to support the best young artists in Italy, regardless of their origins.

The plague in Italy is not only the brain outflow, but also the difficulty to attract new brains from abroad. Giorgio Pardi Foundation and cramum Association have immediately supported the project as they have understood its importance and appreciated its second aim, that is to bridge the generation gap. The prize, in fact, puts in contact different generations of artists.

The international non competing artists are also members of the panel of judges and evaluate the works of the selected young artists. The 10 young finalists can relate with known editors, journalists and Museum directors who form the Jury of every prize edition. For the 4th edition of the cramum prize the judges, besides the non-competing artists, are: Leonardo Capano (IULM), Nushin Elahi (South Africa journalist and editor), Julia Fabényi (director of Budapest Ludwig Múzeum), Ingrid Gentile (independent editor), Rosa Ghezzi (journalist), Katie Hill (Oxford University), Angela Madesani (IED and Brera), Michela Moro (Rai 5), Adriana Polveroni (journalist), Iolanda Ratti (‘900 Museum), MariaFratelli ( Francesco Messina Museum Studio), Renato Rizzo (journalist), Alba Solaro (journalist), Nicla Vassallo (Genoa University Philosopher), Sabino Maria Frassà (Prize director and organizer) and Alberto Puricelli (cramum founder and member).

Since 2013 the prize has taken place in Palazzo Isimbardi, important seat of Milan Metropolitan City. The palace dates back to the 15th century and hosts a number of important works of art: the “plafond” on canvas “Apotheosis of Angelo della Vecchia in the glory of Virtues” by Giovanbattista Tiepolo ; three great frescoes dating back to the first half of the 17th century and attributed to the school of the Varese Painter Pierfilippo Mazzucchelli; and the collection of table clocks called “The value of time” including ten mid 19th century pieces and one of Louis XVI period.

The winners of the previous editions were: Daniele Salvalai, Paolo Peroni and Francesca Piovesan. The first prize winner will be awarded a cube made of Candoglia Marble by the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano. Besides he/ she will have the possibility to organize a site-specific exhibition in Francesco Messina Museum Studio in two years’ time. In May 2016 Paolo Peroni will open his personal exhibition “Orizzonti a parte” (11th - 29th May , 2016 – organizer Sabino Maria Frassà, Francesco Messina Studio Museum ).