Hangar Bicocca, in its immensity and in the simplicity of its brick, cement, and sheet-metal construction, is the subject of London-based Italian artist Daniele Puppi’s latest work, in what is his first solo show in Italy. As anticipated by the posters advertising the event throughout the city, which depict a finger plugging an ear as if to protect it from noise, Puppi’s FATICA 16 (EFFORT 16), 2008, makes the former Asaldo plant reverberate with overwhelming “sound” in 2/4 time. On crossing the threshold, like entering a contemporary cathedral, one is immersed in darkness, and the eye is drawn to images projected on the rear wall, which functions like an apse at the end of a “nave” that is roughly one hundred yards long. The image is of the artist himself, shown busily making noise with two cymbals. It is a simple gesture that hides a neurotic act. But the sound looms over the image; even though the act is illustrated visually, it is the noise that catches us off guard, breaks apart our understanding of the architecture, and amplifies the space, which the image would normally cover or annul. This site-specific work was conceived by the artist while remaining inside the Hangar for a full sixteen days, discovering and establishing a dialogue with every corner (and sound) of the gigantic space. The wonderful result of that effort is an auditory illusion that does not stoop to any illusionism.
Translated from Italian by Marguerite Shore.
