Gigi Guadagnucci and Gio’ Pomodoro In Dialogue With The Sun: A Summer Of Sculpture In Massa, Italy
From June 21 to August 21, 2025, the Gigi Guadagnucci Museum, set within the historic elegance of Villa Rinchiostra in Massa, hosts the major exhibition “Gigi Guadagnucci Gio’ Pomodoro, Conversation on Nature”, an event of great prestige celebrating the creative power of two masters of Italian sculpture. The exhibition path was conceived to connect the poetics of Guadagnucci and Giò Pomodoro, offering the public a profound look into their relationship with nature and, in particular, with the Sun — a universal symbol of energy and rebirth. The opening date, symbolically chosen on the summer solstice, highlights the central role of light as a vital and conceptual element in their works.
LEFT: Pomodoro G, Traces (Fluidity), 1958, Museo Guadagnucci; RIGHT: Guadagnucci G., ph. Enrico Amici
The public will be able to admire 18 masterpieces, including sculptures and drawings, from public and private collections, and discover for the very first time Gio’ Pomodoro’s unpublished drawing “Untitled (Tensions)”, created in 1963. Until the late 1960s, he used the surface as a field for plastic experimentation: an apparently static plane transformed by flexions, incisions, recesses, and protrusions, turning it into a living, elastic organism.
This sophisticated manipulation reveals the latent energy within the material, making the sculpture a dynamic entity in constant dialogue between void and mass. The addition of architectural bases in his works further emphasizes this visual tension, lightening the form and creating a sense of suspension. Horizontal folds and cuts suggest an expansion into space, giving the piece an almost architectural character, delicately balanced between structure and movement.
LEFT: Exhibition setup Museo Guadagnucci, © Nicola Gnesi; RIGHT: Exhibition setup Museo Guadagnucci, © Nicola Gnesi
Gio’ Pomodoro: a life of forms, tensions, and light
Gio’ Pomodoro (Orciano di Pesaro, 1930) developed his artistic training between Florence and Milan, where he began exhibiting with his brother Arnaldo at the Galleria del Naviglio. After participating in the 1956 Venice Biennale, he quickly gained international recognition thanks to works such as the “Superfici in Tensione”, exhibited at Documenta II, the Tate Gallery, and in numerous solo shows.
During the 1970s and 1980s, he focused on large monumental sculptures and public interventions such as the “Teatro del Sole” in Frankfurt and the “Place of the Four Cardinal Points” in Taino, standing out for his ability to merge architecture, space, and poetry. Also a set designer, he exhibited worldwide and in 2002 received the “Lifetime Achievement Award in Contemporary Sculpture”.
LEFT: Pomodoro G., Fallen Sun for Galileo Galilei, 1997–2002; RIGHT: Pomodoro G., Folla, 1962, B_N
Gigi Guadagnucci: the poet of marble and light
Gigi Guadagnucci (Massa, 1915 – Massa, 2013) was one of the most refined interpreters of marble in the twentieth century, capable of transforming the material into light, vibrant, almost suspended forms. Born at the foot of the Apuan Alps, he grew up immersed in the tradition of marble carving, which became his greatest vocation. After an intense path of training and experiences between Italy and France, Guadagnucci developed a unique style, made of transparencies, sensual curves, and subtle tensions, in which marble seems to breathe and come alive.
LEFT: Guadagnucci G., Germination, ph. Enrico Amici; RIGHT: Guadagnucci G., Rondine
In the 1960s and 1970s, he dedicated himself to large monumental works, experimenting with structures hollowed out to the point of transparency and thin sheets that defy gravity. His return to his roots among the Apuan mountains marked the final phase of his work, where research intertwined with memory and spirituality.
The Gigi Guadagnucci Museum at Villa Rinchiostra, inaugurated in 2015, now preserves his artistic legacy, telling the story of an artist who gave marble a delicate and universal voice.
LEFT: Guadagnucci G., Liana, 1979, © Nicola Gnesi; RIGHT: Pomodoro G., Sole, 1979, © Nicola Gnesi
The context
The exhibition at the Gigi Guadagnucci Museum is a complete experience, enriched by the elegance of luxury hotels that welcome visitors in an intimate and refined atmosphere. Here, among bright rooms, centuries-old gardens, and spaces dedicated to relaxation, guests can embark on a true journey into contemporary art, encountering works that tell stories of beauty, courage, and vision. In the summer of 2025, Massa becomes a crossroads of art, light, and exceptional hospitality. An open invitation to all those who wish to be inspired and immerse themselves in a universe where sculpture meets nature, and beauty becomes a shared experience.
LOT-ART SERVICES FOR COLLECTORS
NEW! Best Deals: Bid on highly liquid lots with an estimate below the historical sale price. Make smart investment decisions powered by Market Analytics. Discover Best Deals >>
Market Analytics: Lot-Art big data analytics assess the liquidity, actual value, investment risk and profitability of fine art (contemporary art, modern art, old masters) and luxury collectibles (timepieces), enabling informed investment decisions within a strategy of portfolio diversification. Discover Market Analytics >>
Lot-Art Memberships: Receive Personalized Alerts on your favourite artists and collectibles at auction worldwide to never miss a bid! Subscribe now >>
Lot-Art.com is the world's largest search engine & aggregator of art and collectibles, linking to 3800+ auction houses! Find best deals from your favorite artists and brands among 1 million lots for sale every day in our upcoming section >>
LOT-ART | The Art Investment Platform
Lot-Art.com is the largest search engine & aggregator for auctions of art and collectibles linking to 3800+ auction houses! Find best deals from your favorite artists and brands among 1 million lots for sale every day in our upcoming section.
LOT-ART | The Art Investment Platform
contact@lot-art.com
|
|
|
|
|---|
Don't want these emails anymore? |
|
|
|---|
|
