New artwork by Giulio Paolini, contemporary art maestro, on show at the Bagni Misteriosi in Milan

At the center of a small cardboard stage sits a plaster sphere, resting on a plasterboard base framed by a miniature cardboard theater. The weight of these elements holds down the edge of a red velvet curtain that drapes to the floor. At its base, among glass and gilded frames, nine photographic panels recount the history of the Franco Parenti Theater. Something has just happened, and nothing more can occur: a mere breath of wind would be enough to topple the globe, teetering between two frames of different sizes within the composition, next to an empty gilded frame lying at the base. A flat photographic reproduction of the nymph Echo falls headfirst from the ceiling, frozen in the act of plunging toward the center of the scene. The golden frames represent the ideal tableau, endlessly sought yet continually eluding capture. Together, these elements evoke the dimension and mystery of theater—a constantly renewed wager in the staging of a work of art.

A blend of objects, rich in symbolic and conceptual value, unravels the enigma of theatrical illusion, paying homage to mise en abyme through elements carefully selected and assembled by one of Italy’s most prominent artists of the late 20th century. Titled A.R.S. Scaenica, the work was created for the 50th anniversary of the Franco Parenti Theater and includes an installation and four paper collages. Paolini captures the inherent fiction of theater, illustrating how this illusion is not only fundamental to theater but, more broadly, to every form of art.

Objects, images, and figures appear frozen in a silent descent, their impact softened by the unreality of a pristine, virtual stage. Physically unapproachable and conceptually inaccessible to the viewer, this stage parallels the artist's mind—the first space where the "ever-renewed wager of staging a work of art" is realized. This work, permanently installed in the Teatro Franco Parenti - Bagni Misteriosi in Milan, is accessible through guided tours by reservation (scheduled in November on Wednesdays the 6th, 13th, and 20th, from 6 to 7 PM).

Giulio Paolini (born in Genoa in 1940) is one of the most significant figures in Italian contemporary art. His work delves into visual language and the interplay between art, representation, and perception, often using the concept of "seeing" as a reflective tool. Paolini is renowned for his pieces that blur the lines between pictorial and conceptual language, challenging the very nature and meaning of art itself. Over his career, his works have been displayed in prominent museums and galleries worldwide. In 2022, he was awarded the prestigious Praemium Imperiale in Painting, a recognition that underscores his influence and the global impact of his work on the contemporary art scene.

In 1972, during a period of crisis for traditional theaters, Franco Parenti, Andrée Ruth Shammah, Giovanni Testori, Dante Isella, and Gianmaurizio Fercioni founded the Salone Pier Lombardo, which would become a cultural cornerstone for Milan. Thanks to a program that blended innovation with reinterpretations of classics, the theater quickly stood out, fueled by the close collaboration between Shammah as director and Parenti on stage. Following Franco Parenti's passing in 1989, the theater took on his name, becoming the Teatro Franco Parenti. In 2017, it found a new home in the renovated Palazzina dei Bagni Misteriosi, a 1930s building partially dismantled during World War II. Today, the Parenti remains a cultural landmark in Milan, hosting international productions and artists while fostering continuous experimentation through multidisciplinary artistic experiences, including events, performances, and art installations.

Exhibition: Giulio Paolini, A.R.S. Scaenica, 2024 Where: Teatro Franco Parenti–Bagni Misteriosi, Milan. Permanent Installation. Visit Schedule (November): Wednesdays 6, 13, 20 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.