Klein Fontana

At the Museo del Novecento, an exhibition invites reflection on European cultural identity through an analysis of the relationship between two of the most important figures in the art world of the last century.From a fresh and original perspective, the exhibition explores the parallel paths—between 1957 and 1962, in Milan and Paris—of Yves Klein (1928–1962) and Lucio Fontana (1899–1968), while fully respecting the artistic independence and originality of each.

Their creative story, intertwined with a surprising personal bond, is told through more than 90 works and an exceptionally rich body of documentation, including photographs, period films, and archival materials. In January 1957, Yves Klein held his first solo exhibition of blue monochromes at the Galleria Apollinaire in Milan. On that occasion, Lucio Fontana was among the first to acquire one of the French artist’s monochromes and, in the early 1960s, became one of his most important collectors in Italy.

Fontana’s spatial openings—both physical and conceptual—find a parallel in Klein’s progression from the monochrome to the void. Both artists evoke an immaterial, cosmic, or spiritual space, drawing historical references to the gold of medieval painting and the blue of Giotto, while also directly employing natural elements such as light, fire, and air, or taking inspiration from astronomical imagery.

For this compelling exhibition, we will meet at 7:00 pm at the entrance of the Museo del Novecento in Piazza Duomo on January 22, 2015. The visit will be followed by a convivial dinner at La Collina Pistoiese, a historic Tuscan trattoria in old Milan.