Serena Rocco

Les Bas-fonds du baroque

Exhibitions
Paris, Petit Palais     February 24 - May 24, 2015

designs   Pier Luigi Pizzi 
designs assistant  Serena Rocco

Les Bas- fonds du baroque, reveals the arrogant side of Baroque Rome. For the first time, this exhibition presents an aspect of the Roman artistic creativity which was neglected from Caravaggio to Claude Lorrain. It reveals another side of the capital, that of the sumptuous and virtuous papacy, the dark side of the artists living there. Placing subjects in a specific situation was the design format we chose.  We decided to convey a strong message by placing the Fauno Barberini in an area which preceeds the entrance to the gallery. This statue is a strong symbol and it encloses the meaning of the whole exhibition. The scenic backdrop built around this iconic object is, according to the engravings of Giovanni Battista Falda, a series of pictures showing Rome. In the middle, other plaster models on pedestals evoke the greatness of Rome.  Three doors lead into a space where paintings have been placed following a thematic path. The clash will be emphasized in the last rooms, which resemble those of a Roman palace of the seventeenth century (in memory of the collections), thus highlighting the clash and the conflict with the subjects.