PARMA, December 23, 2023 – A striking visual conversation between the past and present is unfolding at the Monumental complex of the Pilotta in Parma, where artist Lorenzo Marini’s “Dialogue with Bodoni” debuted on December 23rd. The exhibit reimagines the iconic typography of Giovan Battista Bodoni, a pivotal figure in modern typography and a source of immense civic pride for Parma, through a contemporary artistic lens.
A Modern Take on a Timeless Classic
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The exhibit explores the evolution of letterforms, contrasting 18th-century precision with modern illustration.
- The exhibit, “Dialogue with Bodoni,” opened to the public on December 23rd at the Bodoni Museum within the Pilotta complex.
- Lorenzo Marini’s work juxtaposes Bodoni’s classic type with his own vibrant, experimental “TypeArt.”
- The installation aims to re-evaluate Bodoni’s legacy while showcasing the evolving nature of visual communication.
For those who appreciate the art of the written word, Bodoni’s typeface represents an unparalleled standard of elegance and clarity,” noted Lorenzo Marini. “As technology shifts our focus toward visual language, this work seeks to honor Bodoni’s contribution while integrating the dynamism of contemporary illustrated type.”
The Dialogue Between Eras
The artwork is presented as a diptych, a visual pairing of two distinct approaches. Each letter is physically and visually divided: on the left, the original character designed by Bodoni, embodying perfection and legibility; on the right, Marini’s colorful and innovative reinterpretation, transforming the letter into an image, a gesture, and a rhythmic visual element.
Stefano L’Occaso, director of the Pilotta monumental complex, emphasized the cultural significance of the exhibit. “Marini’s characters visualize a concept and an aesthetic idea that speaks to everyone and enters into dialogue with the art of Bodoni: the genius of the printed word, to whom Parma owes a significant part of its international fame.”
Beyond Function: The Letter as Art
Marini’s work isn’t simply a replication of Bodoni’s style; it’s a critical engagement with it. The dialogue isn’t harmonious, but rather a necessary exploration of how language transforms over time alongside evolving images, media, and the increasing dematerialization of text. The artist recalls the printer’s style and reactivates it, dividing the work into two halves.
“Dialogue with Bodoni” celebrates Bodoni’s enduring legacy while simultaneously asserting the freedom of the contemporary alphabet to evolve and embrace new forms of creativity. Marini’s ongoing research into the beauty of characters and the vitality of communicative forms reaffirms the alphabet as a shared visual heritage.
About the Artist
Lorenzo Marini (born 1958) is an Italian artist based in Milan, Los Angeles, and New York. He initially studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice with Emilio Vedova before earning a degree in architecture. He spent three decades working in advertising. Recent solo exhibitions include “Di Segni e di Sogni” at Santa Maria della Scala in Siena, “Alphatype21” at the Italian Cultural Institute Los Angeles, “Dal Silenzio alla Parola” at the Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa in Venice, and “Out of Words” at the Gaggenau Hub in Milan.
In 2016, Marini began focusing on the aesthetic qualities of letters, culminating in the “Manifesto for the liberation of letters” in 2017. He received the Mobius Award Los Angeles for Typevisual in 2018 and the AVI award for the most visited contemporary art exhibition of the year in 2021, following a show at the Santa Maria della Scala Museum complex in Siena. His 2023 exhibitions in Palm Beach and Los Angeles garnered praise, with his “Raintype” installation described as a favorite by American media. In 2024, he was invited to Seoul by Art Continue Gallery and was the sole Italian artist featured at the World Art Fair 2024. He also created “Futurpioggia” for the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome, an installation that frames the exhibition “Il Tempo del Futurismo” (opening in 2025).
