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Tullio Vietri

The
‘90s

The
‘90s
An unprecedented scenario is outlined: after decades, Italy relives the war, nevertheless repudiated by the Constitution.

New balances of power are at stake between NATO countries and the Soviet Bloc, but also within the dissolving Soviet bloc itself, between the developed world and the developing world, between fossil fuel consumer countries and producer countries. Countless fronts opened up, from Yugoslavia, torn apart by ethnic conflicts, to the conflict between Iraq and Kuwait, that led to the first war in the Persian Gulf. In Italy, moral questions, tangentopoli (bribesville), attacks on institutions and the mafia-state negotiation show the fragility of Italian democracy. The disappearance of historical parties and the creation of new political subjects gave rise to highly unstable governmental structures that reflect a fluid and disoriented society.

Vietri’s pictorial language is transformed and gradually takes on more expressionistic tones to represent the disintegration of the social fabric, the massification of man, deprived of his identity and anesthetized in his critical lucidity by an increasingly rampant and penetrating communication-show; his goal is to say no to war.

The Italian Squares

Le “Piazze d’Italia” (The “Italian Squares”) occupy a particular space in Vietri’s work. The first one was created in 1963 on the occasion of the collective exhibition in Palermo “Art against Mafia”; a multiple prize-winner, it also became the cover image of the volume Antologia della Mafia (Anthology of the Mafia), edited by Nando Russo. Several other piazzas followed, both pictorial and graphic, symbolizing the need and strength of a new collective conscience. The pieces realized in this period represent the hope for change, the solidarity and protagonism in the years of the ’67-’69 protests. Later on, the pieces become a perplexed representation of the progressive dissolution of a propulsive thrust, to the point of becoming a mere aggregate of silhouettes, without shadows and without purpose, and finally, without shelter, facing the disintegration of society and the outbreak of wars in the 1990s and 2000s.

Gallery

Parched mountains and withered tree trunks, cities suffocated by traffic, windowless barracks, small cars stuck between huge trucks, squares populated by motionless or fleeing figures, faceless men and women. Men and women oppressed, astonished, unable to react. In contrast, the powerful voice of the great thinkers in defense of democracy and the Supreme Pontiff, against war, in defense of peace, in defense of humanity.

Events & News

News and information on new events related to Tullio Vietri and ongoing activities within the Atelier.
Highlights of special moments, near and far.
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    Tullio Vietri

    The Atelier

    The atelier preserves the family’s rich pictorial and graphic collection (approximately 1,500 pieces, between paintings and graphics). It periodically organizes temporary exhibitions within its spaces, in order to promote knowledge about the collection, displaying the works in rotation.

    It is located in Bologna in Via Saragozza 135 under the historic portico of San Luca.
    The Atelier can be visited, by appointment, from October to June. Guided tours available.

    Further information
    Tullio Vietri

    The Museum

    The Biblioteca Civica, managed by the Oderzo Cultura Foundation, displays the core of the collection owned by the Municipality of Oderzo, by the artist’s behest, custodian of his artworks (about 4000 pieces including paintings and graphics).

    It is located in Oderzo (TV) in Via Garibaldi 80 at the Civic Library.
    It can be visited during library opening hours and by appointment.

    Further information