Palazzo Boncompagni in Bologna presents Alfredo Pirri. Portrait of the Palace, an exhibition running from February 4th to April 30th, 2025, as part of Art City. Internationally acclaimed artist Alfredo Pirri transforms the historic site into an immersive experience, exploring themes of memory, space, and time. Known for his interplay between painting, sculpture, and architecture, Pirri creates site-specific works that engage directly with the palace’s Renaissance heritage.
At the heart of the exhibition is Passi, a striking installation of shattered mirrors covering the floor of the Sala del Papa. Reflecting the ceiling frescoes, the fragmented glass creates an illusion of walking on air, challenging visitors’ perception of space and gravity. The installation also references Pope Gregory XIII, who once resided in the palace and famously reformed the modern calendar, linking the past to the present.
Another highlight is RWD-FWD, an evolving archival project displayed in the palace’s ground-floor rooms. This work, consisting of over 1,500 documents, functions as both a personal archive and a meditation on time, bridging historical memory with the future.
The exhibition also features the video installation Portrait of a Palace with a Lady, documenting a performance in which Pirri and Palazzo Boncompagni’s owner, Paola Pizzighini Benelli, shatter the mirrored floor in a symbolic act.
Curated by Lorenzo Balbi and Silvia Evangelisti, Portrait of the Palace presents a powerful dialogue between contemporary art and historic architecture, making Palazzo Boncompagni not just a backdrop, but an active participant in the artistic experience.
Courtesy of PALAZZO BONCOMPAGNI
