IS THIS A PAINTING?
Asking The Question Boldly In ROME
As most of us know by now, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has forced many art enthusiasts to resort to something most of them never considered in the past: online virtual exhibitions. Although navigating a show and analyzing works of art from one’s computer is far from ideal, galleries have improved the quality of their online presentations. One question remains, can a digital version of an exhibition ever compare to the experience of viewing it in person? Rome’s Nomas Foundation tackles the problem in its virtual reality group show “Is This a Painting?“, available exclusively online.
Jackson Pollock once famously asked his wife the question, “Is this a painting?” about a work he had just completed, and that is what this show aims to explore. The public can reflect on the relationship between art and technology at a time tech may be our only means to access art in the first place. Many museums and galleries worldwide have attempted to digitize their shows, but can a virtual space ever compare to the experience of visiting an exhibit in person? The Nomas Foundation’s computer-generated 3D gallery features thirty-two works by various contemporary artists, including Sol LeWitt, Parker Ito, Alessandro Piangiamore, Gianni Politi, and Wolfgang Tillmans, among others. The pieces were chosen from the foundation’s collection by curator Raffaella Frascarelli, and each tells a different story. As stated in the show’s description: “Is this a painting? It intends to suggest an epistemic position to be adopted in order to discover the stories that each of these work collects, a map to generate questions, criticism, self-criticism starting from the artists’ aesthetic coordinates.” One that stands out is Dan Rees’ abstract work Untitled (2012), or Francesco Gennari’s dark and mysterious self-portrait as a Triangular Sunset (2017). All ask “is this a painting?” and push different boundaries, play with other mediums and techniques, and explore ways of experimenting and breaking the rules.
The virtual gallery is as realistic as it gets, and one can choose to “walk” through the exhibition on their own or with the help of a guided tour. The space is presented in white cube style and is incredibly realistic, given that we see it through a computer screen. The paintings are hung on the bare white walls (where their size differences can be appreciated) and observed from up close in remarkable detail.
The virtual reality show is open until December 31, 2020. Another good reason to attend is that the Nomas Foundation also supports the Lazzaro Spallanzani hospital in Rome and encourages visitors to donate if they can. It truly is a virtual exhibition taken to the next level, as well as a way to visit a show based in Rome from the comfort of your own home. The answer to whether it can be compared to the experience of seeing a show in person is up to the viewer, so don’t hesitate to find out for yourself.
