Thirty-five years ago, Alberto Burri took part in the 15th Triennial and realised the “Continuous Theatre”. The structure, made with mobile scenes and a rotating backstage, was dismantled and definitely removed in 1989. An inconsiderate act on behalf of the Public Administration of Milan of the time, which not only deprived the city of a highly prestigious work of art, but most of all abruptly interrupted the relationship between Burri and Milan. Since 1984  Milan has not seen an exhibition of Alberto Burri. Now the relationship has been stitched up again thanks to an extraordinary exhibition.

The Italian art market is continuing to rouse enthusiasm and attract the attention of worldwide famous collectors. A sector that has recorded a constant development over the years. Just think of 2007 when Christie’s and Sotheby’s held the Italian Sales in London. The former auction house had totalled 21 billion euros, while Sotheby’s almost took 22 billion. Last year, both auction houses sold 87% of their catalogue works.  A noticeable result for Sotheby’s, whose highest sale estimate reached 16,740,000 euros, thus realizing a 76% spread, almost equalling the success achieved in 2006, when an 80% increase was recorded.  On the contrary, Christie’s achieved 8% less than the highest estimates.

In the last few weeks, London city has proved to be the European capital of the art market. With sales dedicated to the modern and impressionist sector, Sotheby’s and Christie’s have confirmed the good state of the market. Indeed, the “Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale” held on 24th June fetched 144 million pounds (284 million dollars), achieving the highest total for a European auction and giving “Le bassin aux nymphèas” by Claude Monet the new world record for the artist, selling the piece for 41 million pounds.

Article translated by Amritee Mahabir

The Italian publisher Rolando Pieraccini, who has lived for about thirty years in Finland, has become an Art Ambassador, or rather he has put into practice the important mystery of the intention of art as an extraordinary diplomatic medium. In his entire career as a publisher, in many ways Pieraccini promoted the cultural rapport between Finland and Italy, organising on one hand, numerous exhibits of Italian artists in Finland and viceversa. And what’s more, he contributed to the formation of relevant modern Finnish art collections in European museums including the Albertina in Vienna and Florence’s Uffizi Gallery.