The Florence Biennale, a well-known exhibition that represents a showcase of excellence for contemporary artistic production at an international level, announced yesterday – 7th July – that it has decided to bestow the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” Career Award (for Art) on Michelangelo Pistoletto. The Biennale gives in fact recognition to figures who have distinguished themselves in the artistic field, in addition to organising twenty collateral events in each edition such as conferences, exhibitions, performances and educational initiatives that offer artists and visitors opportunities to meet and discuss various aspects of art and culture. As reported on their official website, the artists selected in the categories of reference receive the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” International Award, assigned by an international jury composed of important personalities from the world of art and culture, who select the winners among the finalist authors of the works in the competition. The Biennale also confers the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” Career Award to personalities and institutions who have distinguished themselves for artistic merits or for their contribution to culture.

As mentioned, at the next edition this latest recognition will go to the founder of Cittadellarte. The Biellese artist will receive the prize during the 13th Florence Biennale, which will be held from 23rd to 31st October 2021 at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence (as specified by the organisers in a dedicated note, the theme chosen for the 2021 edition is the polychrome and multiform universe of femininity, which will be investigated in its many facets, starting from two major perspectives). The prize will be awarded to Pistoletto “for the continuity of over sixty years of research in the artistic and interdisciplinary field – this the reason for the award – which has brought contributions of fundamental importance not only to art, but also to the human, scientific and social disciplines. An art, that of Michelangelo Pistoletto, which has generated practices and militant processes all over the world in which art is at the centre of a responsible and sustainable transformation of society. These are the principles on which the project of Cittadellarte is based, a non-profit organisation created in Biella, which places art in direct interaction with the various sectors of society through the implementation of programmes aimed at promoting cultural differences as a way to enhance individual and social values, environmental protection, and the responsibility of the artist and their work towards society”.

The motivation for the assignment of the prize also stresses the relevance of Pistoletto’s socially responsible art and demopraxia: “Michelangelo Pistoletto is awarded for his excellent work of dissemination of demopraxia through the arts, therefore of the active participation of citizens in the processes of planning, development and management of society. Michelangelo Pistoletto’s career deserves this recognition also for his constant contribution to building dialogue between social actors,– added the jury – pursued with determination, with the conviction that in order to complete the work of planetary humanization it is necessary to give top priority to the defence of human rights, the protection of biodiversities and their habitat, the promotion of justice and peace in the world”. On the occasion of the 13th Florence Biennale, the artist “will propose his Third Paradise – the organisers concluded – together with the works of dozens of other art activists who will animate the project set up in the Cavaniglia Pavilion, curated by Fortunato D’Amico”.

The other career award presented at the next edition of the Florence Biennale will be to the famous British designer and activist Vivienne Westwood, who will receive the “Leonardo da Vinci” Award (for Design). The prize will be awarded “in recognition of a revolutionary creative production that has marked the history of fashion design over the last fifty years, changing and expanding the concept of femininity, and for having conceived and promoted innovative campaigns with the aim of protecting life on our Mother Earth”. As reported in a dedicated note, Vivienne Westwood will be present at the 13th Florence Biennale together with her partner Andreas Kronthaler, and the Biennale will feature an exhibition dedicated to her and retracing the main stages of her career, with particular attention to her campaigns in defence of human rights and the environment.