Roland Ultra's Journey

From 17 May through 19 July, a new exhibition will display documentation on the journey of Roland Ultra, a massive printing press that, after ten years at the centre of Assab One’s activities, left Milan last year to embark on a journey to India and the promise of a new life. After 30 years of faithful service in the world of books, followed by a decade of stillness as a sort of monument, Roland Ultra began its odyssey towards the unexpected opportunity of resuming the work for which it was built.

The laborious disassembly of Roland, witnessed by many friends, was documented by young photographer Giovanni Hänninen, as was the machine’s long journey to its new home. The work documenting Roland Ultra’s journey took place over the span of one year and generated unexpected opportunities, meetings and reflections, as well as an enormous quantity of photographic material.

The exhibition on the ground floor of the Milanese space of Assab One, where the Roland Ultra resided for over 40 years, includes a selection of photographic prints, two videos and two slide shows. These media tell the story of a less familiar India, captured by Giovanni Hänninen’s lens, revealing a reality that is complex, fascinating and full of contradictions.

The exhibition also includes I giorni della merla, a series of drawings by Nathalie du Pasquier; the journal of the machine's disassembly; the Hermitage sound installation by Steve Piccolo; and the Polvere contemporanea 2012 - assenza di Roland offset prints by Luca Pancrazzi, printed on Indian cardboard by Roland Ultra in Manmad.

The Roland Ultra RVU7 is a 4-colour sheetfed printing press that was produced from 1967 to 1981. The hero of this journey’s serial number is 22334, series 414, and its weight 43,000 kg. Roland arrived to Milan from Germany in 1969. For over 30 years it printed art books for GEA — Grafiche Editoriali Ambrosiane. After the company closed, Roland Ultra was the only machine that remained in the complex that currently hosts Assab One.

During the 10 years when it was a part of Assab One, Roland witnessed — and occasionally took part in — exhibitions, performances and installations. At the end of 2011, Bharatkumar Gohel e Chinubhai Patel, two Indian gentlemen and businessmen, came to Assab One to inspect Roland Ultra, which they had come across through an Internet search. Bharat and Chinubhay proposal to take Roland to India was accepted only once it was established that the printing machine would once more be put to work, with the understanding that its journey would be monitored until it reached its destination.

From 17 May to 19 July 2013
Roland Ultra's Jurney
Assab One
Former GEA factory
Via Assab 1, Milan
Opening reception: Thursday, 16 May, 19:00