In the eyes of those who visit as tourists, Rome presents itself as
a city that looks to its past , with its Historic Center declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a wealth of history to tell. But the capital of Italy goes further. Inside the last classical baroque palace built in 1880 by the will of Salvatore Brancaccio (1842-1924), a Neapolitan prince married to the American heiress Mary Elisabeth Field (1846-1907), there is a space dedicated to
experimenting with contemporary art called
Contemporary Cluster .
Founded in 2016 by
Giacomo Guidi , artistic director and art curator, and
Giorgia Cerulli, architect and design curator, Cluster has occupied several floors of Palazzo Brancaccio (about 3,500
m2 ) since 2021 and is dedicated to exchange and research, paying attention to the different aspects of visual cultures:
fluidity ,
intersection of languages and
cooperation .
Right at the entrance, for those arriving via Via Merulana, in the vibrant and diverse Esquilino area – named by The New York Times as “the neighborhood” to visit in the city, with the century-old Pasticceria Regoli (1916), Rocco Ristorante and Salotto Caronte – the
contrast between the old and the new is evident. Original marble floors, peeling walls, five-meter ceilings and design objects, paintings and photographs on the walls, installations and sculptures are distributed throughout the place.
The ground floor houses the gallery's most important space, called African, with
rotating exhibitions and a precious library of books and magazines housed in wooden shelves, overlooking a
spectacular preserved garden – a place where the Jesuits once cultivated vineyards. Guidi meets with reporters to share his views on the importance of contemporary art. A former member of the Italian National Fencing Team and currently an academic professor, the Roman cites the precepts of theologian Saint Augustine (354-430), who preached that
time exists in the human spirit , and that it is in time that the past, present and future are found. “When we are talking about the past in the present, it becomes the present. And when we talk about the future today, it will be the present tomorrow.
You need to know the past in order to move forward ,” says Guidi, explaining why his city needs to regain its natural vocation in the avant-garde scene that it has always occupied.
Guidi is passionate about
observing trends and believes that art is moving towards
fluid movements . “I love change when I realize that everyone has understood everything,” says, curiously, the Virgo with Virgo rising who found the space in Palazzo Brancaccio to rent on the internet. Soon, in partnership with a German brand, he will create an event to celebrate
clubber culture. Until April 22, the Contemporary Cluster will be exhibiting the work of Polish artist
Tycjan Knut – canvases with optical illusions to create the effect of deep minimalism. In May, they will open an exhibition that will spark a dialogue between historical and young Italian artists, such as
Andrea Polichetti and
Giulia Manfredi . In 2024, the gallery will be presenting the work of
Francisco Nuk , from Minas Gerais, who works with wood in an interesting crossover between wooden furniture, design and art. The Brazilian was discovered by the independent curator from Milan, Domenico de Chirico, who works in partnership with Guidi.
Underground residence
In addition to the exhibitions, Cluster hosts artists in residence in the basement of Palazzo Brancaccio, the
Cave di Contemporary . This is a huge open space located below the Africano exhibition rooms; covered by a barrel vault, common in Roman architecture, a rustic, monumental, hidden and dark environment. Within this “occupation”,
five artists chosen by the gallery’s management work in different manifestations of creativity and side by side, promoting the
exchange of ideas . On the sixth floor, the Apartment by Contemporary Cluster is an exhibition space that explores the domestic area of living, with the union of historical designs and contemporary brands. Each room is ready to be inhabited by the visitor. Each piece, from the artwork, the rug, the lamp and the furniture, is produced by brands that are part of the gallery’s roster.
Film sets and event locations
In addition to housing the Contemporary Cluster, the Palazzo Brancaccio, designed by Italian architects
Gaetano Koch and
Luca Carmini , is a
natural setting for filming, fashion shows and weddings . William Wyler's 1953 Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, was filmed there; and Paolo Sorrentino's 2013 film The Great Beauty. Gucci also chose the location to host a fashion show, and for those who want to get married in style, the venue can be rented. With this mix, the gallery could not be better located in Rome, a city of contrasts and discoveries that has been a source of immense fascination for centuries.
Service
Contemporary Cluster Via Merulana 248, Rome Tuesday to Friday, 10am-7pm Saturdays, 11am-8pm
