Meeting the Ambasciata d´Italia in Berlin: a place for new opportunities

by Manuela Castiglione | Apr 08, 2011 in Creating Opportunities | 1 Comment

It is one of the most beautiful, impressive and unusual art galleries in Berlin. It has been in the spotlight of the contemporary art scene of the city since April 2010. I am talking about the Ambasciata d´Italia in Berlin, which inaugurated one year ago ITaliens, the group exhibition highlighting some of the best Italian artists who left Italy to move to the cultural-bohemian Mecca in Europe.

Recently I had the chance to visit the exhibition led by a special guide: Elena Valensise, the Ambasciatrice in person who welcomed me with a bright warm smile in the huge and elegant living rooms of the so called “Palazzo Rosa” of Berlin (“Pink Palace”).

The cycloptic spaces of the Embassy – which had been built between 1938 and 1943 in New Renaissance style by Friedrich Hetzelt under the supervision of Albert Speer as a gift from Adolf Hitler to the alley Benito Mussolini – the majestic boardrooms, the ancient precious furniture and the untouchable works of art of the Ambasciata could have intimidated the creativity of our artists once called for the project developed by the Embassy in partnership with the Istituto di Cultura Italiano. But Elena and Michele Valensise thought out of the box. They decided to invite the 60 Italian artists living in Berlin for a brunch. They wanted them to “fare amicizia” (to become friend) with the Embassy. They guided them through all the building, till all the “reverential awe” was overwhelmed. The best part happened when they arrived in the bunker. Here the creativity erupted, it had no boundaries any more. From that very moment on they began to develop ideas for site specific works creating a fascinating exchange between their works and the spaces.

This process led to the actual exhibition, where near some works of the artists of the first edition, about that we talked in September 2010 – Daniela Comani, Armin Linke, Gianluca Malgeri, Cristiano Mangione and Patrick Tuttofuoco – I could admire the works of: Antonio Catelani, Riccardo Benassi, Paolo Chiasera, Jonatah Manno, Andrea Melloni, Rosa Barba, Vedovamazzei, Martina Della Valle and Luca Vitone. Curated by the two Italian historians of art Alessandra Pace and Marina Sorbello, the exhibition is about to inaugurate its third edition on May 16th.

Elena Valensise stroke me for her passionate love for art and her willingness to open the Embassy making it into a place of encounter for Italian artists and local institutions, media, art critics, collectors, galleries. The Italian Embassy is very active and alive. It regularly organises events, brunches, media lunches around and for this exhibition. “We try our best to make things happen” says enthusiastically the Ambasciatrice. I can confirm this. For sure I definitely overcome the prejudice that the Embassy was a dusty, old place for diplomatic meetings only. By leaving it I could only think, it´s  a place where our artists cannot feel like “aliens” any more!