A thermal plant transformed. That’s the story of Fondazione Merz. It stands here in Turin. This contemporary art center is named after Mario Merz. He was a groundbreaking Arte Povera artist. His daughter Beatrice founded it.
The Fondazione Merz opened in 2005. It was meant to be a house for art. It would host artists. It was not just to exhibit Mario’s works. It was to be a place of research. It would foster study design and sharing.
The City of Turin granted the space. Beatrice and Mario looked for an unusual space. They wanted an industrial building outside the city center. This location had deep roots in Turin’s industrial heart. Many buildings needed new uses due to the industrial crisis.
The thermal plant was complex. It wasn’t built for art. Artists could challenge themselves here. The Fondazione Merz challenges itself too. It chooses the right artists. Unusual exhibition projects are born. This is the advantage of this space.
Today the Fondazione Merz wants to be a powerhouse for art. It expands beyond its walls. It reaches into human cultural and geographic territories. It is more than just a storage place. It is now a creative platform.
The Fondazione Merz is a migrant. It is polycentric. It looks to the Mediterranean and Central Europe. It sees the sum and contrast of its peoples. It considers the needs of its people.
The Fondazione Merz has no collection. But works owned by the family are exhibited. They appear during Mario and Marisa’s exhibitions. An exhibition every two years is dedicated to them. Their works are compared with invited artists’ projects. The artists choose them.
Beatrice Merz does not consider herself a collector. She buys works of the artists she exhibits. She sees her non-collection as a gallery of exhibition memories.
The Mario Merz Prize is awarded biennially. It reveals talents in art and music. An international network of professionals helps. The project creates a circuit of exhibitions. These events connect Italy and Switzerland.
The Fondazione Merz also operates outside its building. It develops projects in the Mediterranean and Central Europe. These projects aren’t limited to exhibitions. This stems from a desire to invest in a broad program. It embraces contemporary creativity. This includes visual arts music theatre and literature. Some projects focus on social aspects. They build community. They create new networks between artists and territories. The Fondazione acts as a facilitator. It accelerates exchanges and creations.
The building itself is special. The former Officine Lancia power station is industrial architecture from the 1930s. The City of Turin owns it. It is now granted to the Fondazione Merz. It is located in Borgo San Paolo. This area has undergone urban and cultural redevelopment. The restoration sought to recover the original simplicity. It evokes its past function. It redefines the internal spaces. It considers the Fondazione’s cultural goals.
The Fondazione Merz alternates exhibitions. These are dedicated to Mario and Marisa Merz. They offer opportunities to study their work. Other major site-specific projects occur too. National and international artists are invited. They interact with the space. The Fondazione also explores new generations of artists. It holds regular temporary shows.
The Fondazione Merz organizes events. These events create dialogue. They link multiple disciplines. They relate to contemporary culture. The Education Department offers activities. It promotes the relationship between the local area and the museum. It spreads awareness of contemporary art. It offers guided tours student workshops and training for educators.
The Library specializes in modern and contemporary art. The Archivio Merz gathers documentation about Mario and Marisa Merz. Both serve specialists researchers and students.
Beatrice Merz says the thrill of seeing projects born is memorable. The days with the fire ritual for the Wolfgang Laib exhibition were unforgettable. Exhibitions by Kara Walker Christian Boltansky and others were special. The success of the Fondazione Merz depends on relationships. These are with artists curators and writers. Trust leads to seeing dreams come true. It enables transmitting them.
The Fondazione Merz is an evolving institution. It has matured its role. It has become aware of new opportunities. These programs have started in Turin and other cities. The meeting place must find new strategies to appeal.
The Fondazione Merz reflects on the nature of culture. It starts with artists and their works. They are protagonists of the cultural space. They contribute to the civil construction project.