RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection
With works by Federico Antonini, Monia Ben Hamouda, Riccardo Benassi, Ruth Beraha, Carola Bonfili, Costanza Candeloro, Ludovica Carbotta, Beatrice Celli, Giulia Cenci, Alessandro Cicoria, Gianluca Concialdi, Giulia Crispiani, Michela de Mattei, Giorgio Di Noto, Chiara Enzo, Roberto Fassone, Irene Fenara, Giorgia Garzilli, Diego Gualandris, Sara Leghissa, Lorenza Longhi, Eleonora Luccarini, Beatrice Marchi, Diego Marcon, Jim C. Nedd, Francis Offman, Real Madrid, SAGG NAPOLI, Parasite 2.0, Francesco Pedraglio, Margherita Raso, Gabriele Silli, Davide Stucchi and Ilaria Vinci.
#Retrofuture
RETROFUTURE is a in-progress exhibition devoted to rethinking the museum’s collection in the perspective of a pathway aimed at the newer generations, where different timeframes overlap to investigate the role of a public collection of contemporary art in the 21st century.
The spaces contain the photographic portrait of the storerooms of MACRO’s collection made by Giovanna Silva and presented by means of giant wallpapers that now become the context that gradually hosts new works by the invited artists, for a collection that grows over time.

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Giorgio Di Noto, Senza titolo, from the series The Offing, 2020. Inkjet print on blacklight support mounted on lightbox. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Davide Stucchi, Mobile (Rome), 2020. Aluminium, tag, wire, ceramic lamp holder, light bulb. Courtesy the artist, Deborah Schamoni, Munich, Martina Simeti, Milan. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Ludovica Carbotta, Untitled (Stine), 2020. Bas-relief, water-based resin. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Francesco Pedraglio, Maziar Firouzi, +39 02 8295 4344, 2020-2022. Seven bronze stages, backdrop in painted canvas and acrylic, iron trestles, performance. Courtesy the artist, Norma Mangione Gallery, Turin. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

SAGG NAPOLI, AM I INTUITIVE OR AM I PARANOID, 2020. Graffito. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Costanza Candeloro, U, 2020. Drawings, display glass case, iron base. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Carola Bonfili, Polia, 2019. Masks, latex, video 4K, 16’42”. Audio by Francesco Fonassi. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Gianluca Concialdi, Santissima Pizzeria, 2020. Iron, wok, ashtray in glass from Val D’Elsa, cork, burned animal fat, Jaguar bonnet. Courtesy the artist, Clima, Milan. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Giulia Crispiani, Il futuro era ieri, 2020. Mixed media. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Beatrice Marchi, Story of a Girl Band, 2018. HD video, 5’35”. With the voice of: Alessandro Agudio, Marvin Moises Almaraz Dosal, Beatrice Marchi, Giangiacomo Rossetti, Davide Stucchi. Sound mixing: Franco Curfone. Courtesy the artist, SANDY BROWN, Berlin. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

Giorgia Garzilli, Ring, 2020. Oil on canvas. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Agnese Bedini and Melania Dalle Grave, DSL Studio.

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Parasite 2.0, Fuzzy Architecture #3, 2021. Performance, site-specific installation, biodegradable pigment, spray glue. Courtesy the artists. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Stefano Colombo, Parasite 2.0.

Real Madrid. Bounty of the mutineers, 2020. Cardboard box, two-channel video. Courtesy the artists. MACRO 2021. Ph. Simon d’Exéa.

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Margherita Raso. Untitled, 2016. Courtesy the artist, Fanta-MLN, Milan. Giorgia Garzilli, Ring, 2020. Oil on canvas. Courtesy the artist. Real Madrid. Bounty of the mutineers, 2020. Cardboard box, two-channel video. Courtesy the artists. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Simon d’Exéa.

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Alessandro Cicoria, STUDIOLI TV. Calling En Plein Air, 2018, Hi8 video, 9’26’’; Book Launch, 2019, Hi8 video 4’54’’; Studioli al Pellegrino, 2020, Hi8 video, 7’16’’. Courtesy the artists. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. MACRO 2021 Photo credit: Simon d’Exéa.

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Ruth Beraha, I’ll tell you the story I know, 2021. Aluminium, spy-mirror, leather, headphones, mp3 player, audio track. Courtesy the artist. Photo credit: Simon d’Exéa.

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Federico Antonini, You’re So Vain, I Bet You Think This Book Is about You, 2021; Margherita Raso. Untitled, 2016; Giorgia Garzilli, Ring, 2020; Parasite 2.0, Fuzzy Architecture #3, 2021; Gianluca Concialdi, Santissima Pizzeria, 2020. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Courtesy the artists. MACRO 2021. Ph. Simon d’Exéa.

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Irene Fenara, Supervision, 2021. Inkjet print. Courtesy the artist; UNA, Piacenza; ZERO…, Milan. Costanza Candeloro, U, 2020; Carola Bonfili, Polia, 2019: Giorgia Garzilli, Ring, 2020; Margherita Raso, Untitled, 2016. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Courtesy the artists. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2021. Ph. Simon d’Exéa.

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Riccardo Benassi, Dancefloorensick, 2022. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2022. Ph. Agnese Bedini, DSLStudio.

RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Exhibition view. On the background: Carola Bonfili, Polia, 2019; Parasite 2.0, Fuzzy Architecture #3, 2021; Eleonora Luccarini, Portrait of Léonard Santé, 2022; Gianluca Concialdi, Santissima Pizzeria, 2020. In the middle: Lorenza Longhi, Untitled, 2019. On the right: Margherita Raso, Untitled, 2016. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2022. Ph. Agnese Bedini, DSLStudio.

Diego Marcon, Oh mio cagnetto, 2020. Book, LENZ Press, Milan. Courtesy the artist, ERMES ERMES, Vienna. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURO. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view of RETROFUTURE. Notes for a Collection. Museum for Preventive Imagination, MACRO 2021.

Retrofuture. Notes for a collection. Exhibition view MACRO 2024. Ilaria Vinci, And Nothing but the Truths (Danger Queen), 2022. Plaster, acrylic paint, resin, hibiscus tea leaves. Courtesy the artist. Ph. Agnese Bedini – DSL Studio.

RETROFUTURO. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Roberto Fassone in collaboration with Valeria Mancinelli, The Importance of Being Context, 2016. Video, archive. Courtesy the artist; Fanta MLN, Milano. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2022. Ph. Piercarlo Quecchia, DSL Studio.

RETROFUTURO. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Francis Offman, Senza titolo, 2022. Acrylic, ink, coffee grounds, paper, Bolognese plaster on cotton. Courtesy the artist; P420, Bologna; Herald St London. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2022. Ph. Piercarlo Quecchia, DSL Studio.

RETROFUTURO. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Francis Offman, Senza titolo, 2022. Acrylic, ink, coffee grounds, paper, Bolognese plaster on cotton. Courtesy the artist; P420, Bologna; Herald St London. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2022. Ph. Piercarlo Quecchia, DSL Studio.

RETROFUTURO. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. Jim C. Nedd, Camouflage Milieux, 2022. Fine art print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth 305g, aluminium frame, 140 × 100 cm. Courtesy the artist e SANDY BROWN, Berlin. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2022. Ph. Piercarlo Quecchia – DSL Studio.

RETROFUTURO. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. From left to right: Parasite 2.0, Fuzzy Architecture #3, 2021. Performance, site-specific installation, biodegradable pigment, spray glue. Courtesy the artists; Gianluca Concialdi, Santissima Pizzeria, 2020. Iron, wok, ashtray in glass from Val D’Elsa, cork, burned animal fat, Jaguar bonnet. Courtesy the artist, Clima, Milan; Costanza Candeloro, U, 2020. Drawings, display glass case, iron base. Courtesy the artist. Jim C. Nedd, Camouflage Milieux, 2022. Fine art print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth 305g, aluminium frame, 140 × 100 cm. Courtesy the artist e SANDY BROWN, Berlin. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist. MACRO 2022. Ph. Piercarlo Quecchia, DSL Studio.

Retrofuture. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. MACRO 2023. Ph. Melania Dalle Grave – DSL Studio. Monia Ben Hamouda, Denial of a Redwing Blackbird II and III (Aniconism as Figuration Urgency), 2022. Steel, turmeric, chili pepper, paprika, charcoal. Courtesy the artist and ChertLüdde, Berlin. In the background: Parasite 2.0, Fuzzy Architecture #3, 2021; Eleonora Luccarini, Portrait of Léonard Santé, 2022; Gianluca Concialdi, Santissima Pizzeria, 2020. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc.

Beatrice Celli, La fontana di Smaragos, 2021. Ceramic, water, electric pump. Courtesy the artist. Retrofuture. Notes for a Collection. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. MACRO 2023. Ph. MACRO

Retrofuture. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. MACRO 2023. Ph. Melania Dalle Grave – DSL Studio. Diego Gualandris, Paola, 2023. Various materials. Courtesy the artist and Ada, Rome. On the right: Alessandro Cicoria, STUDIOLI TV, 2018-2020. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc.

Retrofuture. Notes for a Collection. Exhibition view. MACRO 2024. Ph. Agnese Bedini – DSL Studio. On the background, from left to right: Francesco Pedraglio, Maziar Firouzi, +39 02 8295 4344, 2020-2022. Seven bronze stages, backdrop in painted canvas and acrylic, iron trestles, performance. Courtesy the artist, Norma Mangione Gallery, Turin. Sara Leghissa, Hello, yes it’s getting scary in Ramallah, they enter at night almost everyday. It’s getting closer to us. I hope it ends soon. “مرحبًا، نعم أصبح الوضع مرعبا في رام الله، فهم يدخلون ليلًا كل يوم تقريبًا. الخطر يقترب منا. أتمنى أن ينتهي كل هذا قريبا” Posters. Graphic design: Marzia Dalfini. Arabic translation: Rabii Brahim. Courtesy the artist. Ludovica Carbotta, Untitled (Stine), 2020. Bas-relief, water-based resin. Courtesy the artist.
Giulia Cenci, Figura che divora se stessa, 2021. Detail. Metal, acrylic resin, studio dust, and ash from the artist’s stove. 310 × 103 × 44 cm. Courtesy the artist; Museo Novecento, Florence; and SpazioA, Pistoia. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist.

Retrofuture. Notes for a collection. Exhibition view. MACRO 2024. Ph. Agnese Bedini – DSL Studio. In the foreground: Gabriele Silli, Organo del sommerso, 2022-2024. Steel cable, iron, glues, resins, tea bags, seaweed from Tierra del Fuego and other organic materials. Courtesy the artist and Galleria Mazzoli. In the background, on the right: Real Madrid. Bounty of the mutineers, 2020. Cardboard box, two-channel video. Courtesy the artists. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist.

Retrofuture. Notes for a collection. Exhibition view. MACRO 2024. Ph. Agnese Bedini – DSL Studio. In the foreground, from left to the right: Davide Stucchi, Mobile (Rome), 2020. Aluminium, tag, wire, ceramic lamp holder, light bulb. Courtesy the artist, Deborah Schamoni, Munich, Martina Simeti, Milan. Gianluca Concialdi, Santissima Pizzeria, 2020. Iron, wok, ashtray in glass from Val D’Elsa, cork, burned animal fat, Jaguar bonnet. Courtesy the artist, Clima, Milan. In the background, from left to right: Sara Leghissa, ITALIAN ARTS UNITED FOR PALESTINE, 8 December 2023, Il Campo Innocente, AWI Art Workers Italia and Italian Arts Watch. Parasite 2.0, Fuzzy Architecture #3, 2021. Performance, site-specific installation, biodegradable pigment, spray glue. Courtesy the artists. Eleonora Luccarini, Portrait of Léonard Santé, 2022. Installation, LED lightbox, printed fabric. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist.

Retrofuture. Notes for a collection. Exhibition view. MACRO 2024. Ph. Agnese Bedini – DSL Studio. In the foreground: Beatrice Marchi, Story of a Girl Band, 2018. HD video, 5’35”. With the voice of: Alessandro Agudio, Marvin Moises Almaraz Dosal, Beatrice Marchi, Giangiacomo Rossetti, Davide Stucchi. Sound mixing: Franco Curfone. Courtesy the artist, SANDY BROWN, Berlin. In the background: Ilaria Vinci, And Nothing but the Truths (Danger Queen), 2022. Plaster, acrylic paint, resin, hibiscus tea leaves. Courtesy the artist. Giorgio Di Noto, Senza titolo, from the series The Offing, 2020. Inkjet print on blacklight support mounted on lightbox. Courtesy the artist. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist.

Retrofuture. Notes for a collection. Exhibition view. MACRO 2024. Ph. Agnese Bedini – DSL Studio. From left to right: Chiara Enzo, Senza Titolo (Distesa), 2023. Gouache tempera, pastel and colored pencils on cardboard glued on board. Courtesy the artist and and ZERO…, Milan. Irene Fenara, Supervision, 2021. Inkjet print. Courtesy the artist, UNA, Piacenza, ZERO…, Milan. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist.

Retrofuture. Notes for a collection. Exhibition view. MACRO 2024. Ph. Agnese Bedini – DSL Studio. In the background, on the left: Diego Gualandris, Paola, 2023. Various materials. Courtesy the artist and Ada, Rome. Alessandro Cicoria, STUDIOLI TV. Calling En Plein Air, 2018, Hi8 video, 9’26’’; Book Launch, 2019, Hi8 video 4’54’’; Studioli al Pellegrino, 2020, Hi8 video, 7’16’’. Francesco Pedraglio, Maziar Firouzi, +39 02 8295 4344, 2020-2022. Seven bronze stages, backdrop in painted canvas and acrylic, iron trestles, performance. Courtesy the artist, Norma Mangione Gallery, Turin. On the left: Sara Leghissa, Hello, yes it’s getting scary in Ramallah, they enter at night almost everyday. It’s getting closer to us. I hope it ends soon. “مرحبًا، نعم أصبح الوضع مرعبا في رام الله، فهم يدخلون ليلًا كل يوم تقريبًا. الخطر يقترب منا. أتمنى أن ينتهي كل هذا قريبا” Posters. Graphic design: Marzia Dalfini. Arabic translation: Rabii Brahim. Courtesy the artist. In the foreground: Gabriele Silli, Organo del sommerso, 2022-2024. Steel cable, iron, glues, resins, tea bags, seaweed from Tierra del Fuego and other organic materials. Courtesy the artist and Galleria Mazzoli. On the walls: Giovanna Silva, Catabasi, 2020. Print on pvc. Courtesy the artist.
Curator: Luca Lo Pinto
Coordinated by Matteo Binci (curatorial) and Giulia Caruso (production)