I think it was tremendous, something of value and -but this is my very personal opinion- another dead on target of this museum.
I don't know if start talking about the museum itself, designed by Ignazio Gardella starting from the 1951, or about the exhibit.
The first thing I've to say is: children fully enjoy 1/5 of the stuff, that is basically the "cinema zone" with videos and two super-puppets from Monster's&co movie. I suppose they are "full size", even if I've never had the pleasure to meet a true monster.
The remaining 4/5 it's a pleasure for adults interested in graphics, cinema, computer animation and art. And this is the point: this IS art, as it is well explained in the free explanation paper (a b/w photocopy on a so thin sheet that I had to hide myself from the lights and the screens, avoiding the transparency effect mixing both the sides).
Okay, it has been first presented at the Moma and this is only a stage of this worldwide traveling show, but I really would like to know if it had been explained that well as they did here in Milan. I challenge anyone! (and please let me know if I'm talking nonsense).
What is art? This is the main issue of the presentation. What's contemporary art? Art is moving fast and, as it is explained in the above-mentioned paper, bravely.
Well, considering the traditional Italian art and the current confused artistic Italian panorama, brave is the correct term HERE, even if in the rest of the world that's NORMALITY.
Translating the text: <Contemporary art is thrusting itself forward up to the computer animation> giving us a good example of our times, exploring the controversial relation between man and machine, <where man is adopting mechanical behaviors and machines human features, trying to emulate the human body>.
Despite this J. Baudrillard-style introduction, I half agree with this: for sure technology is increasing and humans relaxing, but I think that here we can see very good pieces of art, in all its traditional forms (drawings, paintings, statues) and in the most futuristic ones (there is also a Samsung-sponsored wall of fake I-pad, where people can enjoy a section of the exhibition, without caring for Mr. Jobs contribution to Pixar…).
This is art because, as the paper explains <there are stylistic recalls to authors, places, classics of art and music>. It is art because it looks for progress, continuing researches started in the past, such as the spatial conquer of perspective in the Renaissance.
I think this is art because the framed drawings are great, well done, deeply studied, in the most humanistic ways, and I don't want to seem to exaggerate while saying that I thought of Leonardo's sketches, watching those showed here.
Painting has always anticipated reality and architecture, from very ancient times (just think about Giotto's Storie di San Francesco).
Pixar has been studying in dept places, sceneries, cities and probably is anticipating what's expecting us. For sure, movies such as "Wall-E" are highlighting issues that we cannot ignore (and I'm talking not only of the supposed Earth future, but also that of the extra-size humanity living in the Axiom space-ship).
Rack up for the Zoetrope of Toy Story - funny construction made of little statues that, moving round very fast and being correctly lighted, gives you the idea of an animated scene.
(Zoetrope)
Very good also the Artscape -which I previously indicated as "cinema zone", enjoyed by children, but adults as well, with a wide wide-screen showing the artistic process in the Pixar studios.
If you take the occasion to come here, save 7.00€ from "Montenapo" golden quadrilateral and spend those for entering the PAC: it's near that and it hosts great and clever exhibitions.
All the explanations are in Italian AND English (rare "bird" in Italy).
[Pixar images taken from PAC website]
