FLORENCE RETURNS TO PROMINENCE WITH THE 32nd EDITION OF THE BIENNIALE
From 24 September to 2 October 2022, Florence will be welcoming the excellence of art and antiques at Palazzo Corsini on the Lungarno. “A museum for sale”, as Fabrizio Moretti, Secretary General of the Biennale Internazionale dell’Antiquariato in his fourth year as director, defines it.
75 international galleries will be showing no less than 4,500 works of various types, all carefully screened by the authoritative Vetting; the scientific commission of experts from every art sector, enabling the purchaser to buy with confidence.
The official opening, to be held on Saturday 24 September at 10.30 a.m. in the Salone dei Cinquecento in the presence of the Mayor Dario Nardella and the city authorities, will be preceded by three days of previews dedicated to collectors, museum directors and the press, and by a highly anticipated ‘black tie’ gala dinner. Fireworks will light up the Arno and Palazzo Corsini on 22 September from 11.00 p.m. to the rhythm of music.
The 32nd edition marks 63 years of activity of the Biennale, a milestone that the organisers wanted to celebrate by reconfirming Florence Art Week, a rich programme of events (inauguration on 24 September) all within walking distance in the heart of Florence. It will involve many of the city’s galleries offering exhibitions also open in the evening, public museums and private collections, plus 30 boutiques in the historic centre that will be welcoming customers in a special way.
The BIAF is an integral part of the history of collecting in Italy after the Second World War (1959). Many antiquarians have linked their professional history to the Biennale and just as many collections have been formed as a result of purchases made from the exhibition stands.
The cultural programme of the BIAF from 26 to 30 September in the Salone del Trono, will host numerous book presentations and conferences related to the history and market of art.
The complete programme can be found on this website.
In addition to the historic prizes for the most beautiful Painting and Sculpture on display at the Exhibition, a new award is being added for the second year running: the “Prize for Decorative or Design Arts” thanks to the sponsorship of Ronald S. Lauder, who will award it during the Biennale from out of a trio of works selected by a special jury. The sum of Euro 25,000 will allow the restoration of a number of decorative art works belonging to the public cultural heritage. It is an explicit desire of the Biennale, underlines the Secretary General Fabrizio Moretti, “to promote and support the restoration of those works that would be difficult to find sponsorship for because they are less famous.”
In addition, on Wednesday 28 September at 4 p.m. in the Salone del Trono of Palazzo Corsini, the ‘Lorenzo d’oro’, created by Maestro Marcello Guasti (Florence 1924 – Bagno a Ripoli 2019), will be awarded.
For the third time running, Palazzo Corsini will be fitted out by designer Matteo Corvino.
For the first time, an exhibition dedicated to ancient art will be looking with interest at modern technologies and opening up to the metaverse, Neuroaesthetics and NFT. In partnership with EY Italia, a three-dimensional virtual exhibition is being proposed where users will be able to interact and touch the 14 award-winning works from 2007 to 2019.
