The Image of the City by Jacopo Ascari

We are pleased to have collaborated on the decoration of the frames created for the 8 works by Jacopo Ascari on display in Venice at Palazzo Venart until November 30.

“The exhibition is an illustrated journey through Italy’s capitals, an aesthetic experience capturing deeply human values: the measure of existence and the memory of places, the recognizability of urban memory, and, above all, the unique identity of Venice, Rome, Milan, and Florence,” explains Jacopo Ascari. 

“Alongside large-scale reproductions of these cities, envisioned as civitas—communities self-aware of their own identity—are specific illustrations dedicated to the magnificent boutique hotels of the LDC group. These hotels, true theaters of Italian dolce vita open to the world, are depicted as windows alternating between views of their interiors and perspectives on the buildings, seen as integral parts of the cityscape”.

To enhance the artist’s work and celebrate the city of Venice, Lorenzo Cinotti chose to frame Jacopo’s works within custom-designed wooden and mosaic architectures crafted by two Venetian artisan companies: Lunardelli Venezia for the wooden frames and Orsoni Venezia 1888 for the glass enamel and gold leaf mosaics that adorn them.

The Ramosalso atelier, through an upcycling process using precious fabrics, created protective covers for the artworks.

The large frames, like Renaissance rooms with a view, redefine the concept of monumentality, making it contemporary.

“Palazzo Venart is not only a residence of extraordinary historical and artistic value but also a precious place that evokes Venice’s illustrious past and connects with the city’s deepest soul,” says Luana Mazzega, General Manager of Palazzo Venart. “Through the wonderful works commissioned to Jacopo Ascari and the collaboration with renowned artisans like Lunardelli and Orsoni, Palazzo Venart itself becomes a canvas that reflects and enhances cultural dialogue, fostering an authentic connection with Venice’s artistic tradition. It is beautiful to see this small boutique hotel transform into a vibrant container of culture.”

“This project weaves together art, architecture, high craftsmanship, and visual storytelling. We asked Jacopo to reinterpret the cities of Venice, Rome, Florence, and Milan, transforming historic spaces like Palazzo Venart and Palazzo Portinari Salviati into architectural worlds where different temporal dimensions coexist,” states Lorenzo Cinotti of Venezia da Vivere. “The fantastic maps of the four cities and the wooden frames crafted by Lunardelli Venezia, enriched with Orsoni mosaics and Ramosalso upcycled fabrics, celebrate Italian art, architecture, and Venetian craftsmanship in a contemporary light. As Maurizio Nannucci’s installation ‘All Art Has Been Contemporary’ displayed at the Altes Museum in Berlin in 1999/2000 suggests, all art, in its time, was contemporary, and this project expresses a harmonious synthesis of tradition and innovation.”

After the inauguration, the exhibition will be open to the public by appointment until November 30, 2024. After the exhibition, the artworks will travel to Taiwan.

Information:

The Image of the City
Architectural Narratives for a Contemporary Renaissance  by Jacopo Ascari

Open from October 26 to November 30, 2024
Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel, Calle Tron 1961, Santa Croce, Venice
To book a free visit to the exhibition: info.venart@ldchotels.com