Palazzo Strozzi is the symbol of Florence, and is among the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Italy. It is on its facade that the French artist JR has created his latest work: a spectacular glimpse, which takes the name of "The wound".

“La Ferita” by Palazzo Strozzi, JR's masterpiece

28 meters high by 33 meters wide, “La Ferita” is a monumental installation. A visual gash on the façade of Palazzo Strozzi, which opens up to the vision of a real and imagined interior. It's about a reflection on accessibility not only at Palazzo Strozzi but at all places of culture in the era of Covid-19 ″ can be read on the Instagram profile of the palace. Launched in streaming on Friday 19 March, “La Ferita” was made with a black and white photo collage as is typical of JR's work. In jargon it takes the name of "anamorphosis", a 'optical illusion that generates wonder. From a given vantage point, it is possible to see (or rather, believe you see) different rooms of Palazzo Strozzi. There are the courtyard with its colonnade, the exhibition hall, the library. And there are some of the most famous works ofFlorentine art.

Who is JR

JR's is a scenographic work, but it is also a reflection. By bringing the works of art to the eye, and a real environment such as the library of the National Institute of Renaissance Studies, he turned the spotlight on the symbolic wound that the museum (and culture) enclosure carries with it. "They say the museums are closed. But it's up to us to open them. Here is Florence, the city of Botticelli, Donatello, Machiavelli and Dante Alighieri, we have opened Palazzo Strozzi for you. In recent months we have been deprived of the opportunity to be together, but we still have the freedom to dream, create, imagine the future. Maybe it's not much, but we have it" he wrote. French born in 1983, JR (real name Jean René) has worked on the walls of the main cities of the world. He is represented by one of the most powerful gallery owners in Europe, Emmanuel Perrotin, and also works for the cinema. After collaborating with director Agnès Varsa on “Visages Villages”, her name has made its way among the insiders. And he has seen his fame increase.

the artist Jr
jr | Wikipedia (Mohamed Nabhay from Qatar)

Palazzo Strozzi, what to see

Among the most beautiful Renaissance palaces in Italy, Palazzo Strozzi was born in the fifteenth century from an idea of Philip Strozzi. "Enemy" of the Medici, he wanted his residence to be much larger than his rival. So much so that, to build it, fifteen buildings were demolished. Owned by the Strozzi family until 1937, it was sold to the State in 1999. Visiting it means treating yourself to a real journey into art. His temporary exhibitions always gain international attention, whether they talk about the past or the future. If today you can admire "La Ferita", from 28 May to 22 August it will be possible to visit "American Art 1961-2001". For the first time, modern art tells the United States between two sadly historical events: the Vietnam War and the attack on the Twin Towers. Eighty works by fifty-five American artists, including Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, Louise Nevelson, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Bruce Nauman, Barbara Kruger, Robert Mapplethorpe, Cindy Sherman, Matthew Barney and Kara Walker.

Palazzo Strozzi, "The Wound" tears open the palace last edit: 2021-03-24T12:50:27+01:00 da Laura Alberti

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