Date: July 8, 2023–October 8, 2023

Venue: Gallery 5

Content:

Giorgio Morandi, an artist born in Bologna, a famous historic and cultural city in Italy, had achieved extremely dazzling achievements in art in the 20^th century. Throughout the world art history, Morandi had been one of few great masters who focused on a narrow scope of specific subjects and had never ceased trying or creating. Especially, Morandi explored and apprehended the nature of objects in his still life oil paintings, showing a high artistic taste and intellectual depth. His works have become timeless classics of modern still life painting.

Since its establishment, the CGCM has taken foreign exchanges and mutual learning as an important mission of the museum. Like Grand Canal, the classical artworks that have been glistering in history like stars also belong to the whole world and humanity. For this reason, the CGCM is introducing the international art exhibition for the “Canal Art Series” for the first time in July 2023. It works with the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (“National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art”) in Rome, Italy, IMAGO Art Gallery, and Giovanardi Collection to launch the major art exhibition of the year—Giorgio Morandi. This exhibition will present to the audience the Italian painter who had lived a secluded life with his bottles and vases. Notably, this will also be the first paid exhibition hosted by the CGCM.

The exhibition includes three sections: “Appreciation of Forms”, “Observation of Object Images” and “Enjoyment of Landscapes”. Based on the timeline of his creation, 46 well selected works created in different stages from 1914 to 1962 will be on exhibition to narrate the peaceful, quiet and lonely poetic world of Morandi.

The three sections of the exhibition cover not only Morandi’s still life works and three etchings in his early period but also the landscape paintings that he created for self-healing during World War II. Morandi’s landscape paintings and flower paintings demonstrate his other artistic explorations and achievements than still life paintings. Additionally, a miniature model of Morandi’s studio has been set up, offering a panoramic view of this 9-square-meter space, filled with solitude and gentleness.

In designing the exhibition space, the curatorial team has incorporated exhibits such as a restored miniature studio, multi-sensory bouquet installations, “flowers in bottles”, and an interactive check-in wall, all based on the themes of Morandi’s works and related video materials. In addition to admiring the master’s great works up close, visitors can also replicate and create their own artworks in the gallery, leaving behind unique memories of their experience.