Postcard from miart 2017

Milan, as a whole, has garnered a new energy since it was the site of the 2015 World Expo. That engagement is still very much present and could be felt in and outside the fair, on view to the public March 31-April 2.

Coinciding exhibitions around town at various museums and private collections were a testament to that, like the amazing Keith Haring show at Palazzo Reale juxtaposed antiquities and the work of the late New York artist.

As for the fair itself, the general atmosphere was very positive. Giorgio de Chirico was clearly the Italian artist everyone was talking about, in the ways Fontana, Boetti and Burri emerged in the past. One should expect to see much more of him outside Italy very soon. The choice of this surrealist artist says a lot about our current world, and I guess absurdity is better in paintings than in politics.

The section created by the fair representing artists from each decade since 1910 offered a powerful space to reflect and time travel.

As for the emerging talent, a few international galleries presented very promising works—from SMAC in South Africa to Seventeen in London to The Goma in Madrid.

The fair was supported by top Italian galleries and dealers, as well, like Mazzoleni, Massimo De Carlo, and Nicolo Cardi. It was a successful fair, taking place just days before the design community descends upon the city for Salone del Mobile this week.

More soon from Milan!