29-31 January 2016
Autostazione di Bologna, Italy
Piazza XX Settembre, 6
The SetUp Contemporary Artfair started with its first edition in 2012. So in 2016 it was the fourth release. It was born out of the enthusiasm of the two founders Simona Gavioli (President) and Alice Zannoni (Director) to initiate a place of encounter between artists, gallerists, curators and art critics. A main emphasis was to assist young emerging artists and curators to enable the young generation to enter into the art business. Moreover, they wanted to create a cultural exchange and reflexion all around contemporary art.
In this sense, the location of the Autostazione di Bologna (coach station of Bologna) fitted the purpose perfectly. The complex was inaugurated in 1967, placed close to the train station and the city centre. Today it connects Bologna to other cities in the region, in Italy and all over Europe. Just for being a central point in a European network it could be symbolically perfect to the intention of the founders. Furthermore the place attracts not only art professionals, but as well a young public interested in art, due to its central position and the affordable admission.
Additionally the location is really interesting: the art fair is held on the first floor, initially used for the administration. So the booths mostly are single rooms and not separated boxes. This enables the visitors to plunge into a labyrinth of art and find an intimate contact to artworks, gallerists and artists. The SetUp Artfair also is connected to the city by exhibitions in conventional and unconventional places.
The number of participating national and international galleries is growing every year so that there were 44 in 2016. Guided by the theme “Orientamento” (Orientation) they exposed in four different categories: Main section, Special Project, Solo Show and Drawing the world. The last one is new: SetUp invited Mónica Álvarez Careaga to curate this section with four galleries from Santander (Spain). Special Project showed 14 innovating and unreleased art works. Six galleries presented a single artist in the category Solo Show. 34 galleries showed at least one conception of a curator under 35 in tandem with an artist under 35, like it is intended by the organizers. Moreover there were six publishing participants in the Area Editoria. The institution of the Kinder SetUp was dedicated to children. Here they could explore the artistic and natural environment in Bologna.
Even the well done catalogue reflects the focus on cooperation in between the actors. Besides general information about the SetUp Artfair, every gallery and project is presented with an article and photos about the displayed work. The cultural program with performances and thematic discussions are explained. It’s a good book to get orientation before entering the exhibition and to reflect on it afterwards.
All in all the SetUp Artfair is a cultural event for art enthusiasts and professionals. It is a felicitous complement to the ARTE FIERA and the ART CITY. The late opening hours allow the visit of both shows and the collateral events in the city.
Impressions
“Melancolia” and “Solaris” (Io sono qui, I am here)
by Nicola Bertolletti at Francesca Sensi Arte a Colori, Special Project
“Autumnus Quercu Ferrum” by Daniel R. Martin at Siboney, Drawing the World
Sandro Tiberi at Incredibol, Main Section
La Print About Machine at Print About Me, Main Section, Premio SetUp under 35
“Non dice chi è” (Don’t say who it is) by Dario Agrimi at Art and Ars Gallery, Main Section, Premio SetUp under 35
“Fiume” (River) by Valentina D’Accardi at ABC Arte Bologna Cultura, Main Section, Premio SetUp under 35
“A Casa ovunque” (Anywhere at home) by Sveva Angeletti at Marta Massaioli Arte Contemporanea,
Main Section, Premio SetUp under 35
Alessandro Cardinale at ZAK Project Space, Main Section
“Antarctica Vortex” by Opiemme at Portanova 12, Main Section
“Il cigno di Bukhara” (The Swan of Bukhara) and “Aereo” (Airplane) by Mattia Novello at Galleria Flaviostocco, SOLO Show
Laura Bisotti at ZAK Project Space, Main Section
Adonai Sebhatu at Galleria B4, Main Section
“Direzioni_d_Identità” (Directions of Identity) by Gigi Piana at Riccardo Costantini Contemporary, Main Section
Hondartza Fraga at Espacio Alexandra, Drawing the World
“Landmarks, Links to our Era” by Zino at YAB (young artists bay), SOLO Show
“Ozzehg e il Castello di Chiara” (Ozzehg and the Castel of Chiara) by Paolo Bolboni, Special Project
“Décor” by Chus Gracia Fraile at Kir Royal Gallery, Special Project
Article by Astrid Gallinat