Buenos Aires – The exhibition “Il sangue parla” (Blood Speaks), dedicated to the Italian architect and artist Clorindo Testa and organised in partnership with the Testa Foundation, has opened at the Italian Embassy in Buenos Aires. Speaking at the inauguration, in the presence of the Minister of Culture, Tristan Bauer, Ambassador Fabrizio Lucentini said: “We are here to celebrate the bond that unites Italy and Argentina thanks to a great artist, who was a child of both countries and who, through his drawings and his art, has successfully represent the strong relationship that exists between the two nations.” Clorindo Testa, architect, painter and sculptor, was born in Italy but became a naturalised citizen of Argentina later in his life, having settled in the country, where he designed several iconic buildings, such as the National Library of Argentina and the Banco de Londres building, both in Buenos Aires, among others. The latter work in particular, much praised for its plasticity and innovative character, has established him as one of the pioneers and leaders of the Brutalist movement in South America. The exhibition is an in-depth retrospective of Testa’s work, who, although he lived practically all his life in Argentina, also dedicated a significant part of his output to Italy, such as the series of paintings entitled “La Peste en Ceppaloni” and “Herculano cubierta por cenizas”, on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The exhibition, curated by architects Juan Fontana and Oscar Lorenti, traces Testa’s long career through his travels, the friendships he cultivated and the events that brought him to Italy, such as his participation in the Venice Biennale and the awarding of an honorary degree by Rome’s La Sapienza University. It presents prototypes and drawings of his projects for Italy, exploring the connections between the architectural language of Italy and Testa’s personal style, as well as a series of drawings and clippings from Testa’s personal diary. The exhibition will be open until 7 November at the Kirchner Cultural Centre. (9colonne)
BUENOS AIRES, INAUGURATION OF THE EXHIBITION OF CLORINDO TESTA
