The Fondazione Perugia is set to unveil an innovative exhibition titled EXTRA: Ancient Signs / Contemporary Visions, curated by Marco Tonelli. Running from June 17, 2025, to January 6, 2026, at the historic Palazzo Baldeschi, the exhibition aims to bridge the past and present by showcasing around 1,700 newly acquired parchment covers from the Albertini Collection, alongside works by eighteen contemporary artists including Alighiero Boetti, Emilio Isgrò, and Maria Lai.
This ambitious project aims not only to display these exquisite 13th to 15th-century artifacts but also to highlight their continued relevance in the context of modern artistic expression. The title EXTRA derives from the Latin term “cognitio extra ordinem,” which signifies legal norms that defy traditional frameworks. This idea encapsulates the exhibition’s essence: presenting extraordinary juxtapositions between ancient parchments and contemporary artworks.
According to Alcide Casini, President of the Fondazione Perugia, the exhibition reaffirms the foundation’s commitment to protecting and promoting historical heritage while simultaneously fostering new languages and visions that bring historical memory to life. The primary goal is to create an interaction between the artistically significant documents and contemporary pieces, inviting visitors to draw connections across time.
The exhibition is organized into five thematic areas: Figurations, Abstractions, Motifs, (Re)writings, and Symbols, each fostering dialogue between the historical artifacts and the works of contemporary artists.
The Figurations sector features heraldic coats of arms adorned with figures such as rampant lions and griffins, alongside hyper-realistic ceramic works by the duo Bertozzi & Casoni. The Abstractions area expands on geometric elements in heraldry, complemented by the works of artists like Maurizio Cannavacciuolo and David Tremlett, who explore the interplay between word and image.
The Motifs section presents a unique dialogue between ancient parchments and modern graphic signs from artists such as Gianni Dessì and Alighiero Boetti. This contrasts with the (Re)writings space, which emphasizes the physicality of the parchments, showcasing their wear and tear, which reflects the passage of time.
EXTRA: Ancient Signs / Contemporary Visions encapsulates a narrative that intertwines history with modernity, offering an alternative perspective on how we interpret cultural artifacts. It challenges our perceptions of art and history, presenting them as vibrant dialogues within a mosaic of unexpected paths. The exhibition underscores the importance of keeping the memory of the past alive, making it a living heritage that resonates with contemporary artistic discourse.
Photo credits: The photographs are the property of the Fondazione Perugia
Leave a Reply