Modern Italian artist captures agony of war

Marino Marini

To promote and introduce Italian art, the works of the late Italian artist, Marino Marini, have been put on display in Korea for the first time.
“The Italian Cultural Institute in Seoul has for some years now made a point of introducing contemporary Italian art to the Korean public, as it is still not well known here if compared to our ‘classic art,’” said Luigino Zecchin, head of the Italian Cultural Institute in Seoul.
The exhibition, which started on Valentine’s Day and runs until April 22, will showcase 105 pieces of art, including 55 sculptures at the National Museum of Art in Deoksugung Palace in downtown Seoul.
The exhibition is being organized by the art museum and supported by the Marino Marini Foundation in Italy, the Italian Embassy in Seoul and the Italian Cultural Institute in Seoul. Marini, although well known in other countries (particularly in Europe) as one of the most influential post-World War II artists, has had little exposure in Korea.
“Marino Marini is an artist of great value ― painter, sculptor, master in drawing and graphics ― who essentially worked in the second half of last century,” Mr. Zecchin told the JoongAng Daily via e-mail. “Marini is mainly appreciated by the Italian public for his Italic character that goes back to pre-Roman Etruscan art to which he adds an expressionist mark.”

Marino Marini’s painting of a man on a horse and a woman standing next to it. Provided by National Museum of Art

In fact Mr. Marini’s works, instead of recreating objects in detail, are famous for expressing inner emotions, particularly the agony that men suffer in war. For example, one of his famous sculptures is of a naked man of unknown identity and social class sitting on a horse.
One of the quotes the Italian artist left describing this and similar pieces is, “Little by little, my horses become more restless, their riders are less and less able to control them. Man and beast are both overcome by catastrophes much like those that struck Sodom and Pompeii.”
“I also had the misconception for some time that the appreciation of this artist was reserved to a few Korean experts and European art historians,” said Mr. Zecchin. “Actually the visitors to the exhibition will be surprised to find out that one hall of the museum is reserved for Korean artists who have somehow been influenced by Marino Marini.”
One of the Korean artists is the late Yoon Hyo-joong. “Mr. Yoon started introducing the sculptures of the Italian artist to his Korean students through photographs and catalogues,” Mr. Zecchin said.
Believing that cultural events play a significant role in establishing friendly and favorable relations between different countries, Mr. Zecchin said the Italian Cultural Center will organize exhibitions of two internationally renowned Italian artists, Umberto Albanese in September at the Galerie PICI in Gangnam, southern Seoul, and Mimmo Sinisca in December at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center’s gallery.

By Lee Ho-jeong Staff Writer [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]