Carmelo Ficarra, the consul-general of Italy for Hong Kong and Macao, introduces the re-branded Italian Autumn Festival in Hong Kong, ITALIA on Stage, in Hong Kong on Oct 12, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The contemporary arts scene in Italy has many dynamics, and Italian authorities have made intense efforts to promote modern elements together with traditional art, said Carmelo Ficarra, the consul-general of Italy for Hong Kong and Macao.

“By simply visiting Italy’s Minister of Culture website, everyone can get a sense of the number of programs that the Ministry has financially supported in order to promote both art and artists,” Ficarra said. “From the website, you can have a sense of the intensity of the promotion that the ministry is organizing.”

Next year marks the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death, and a series of events to celebrate the anniversary and commemorate the renowned explorer will be held in Italy and around the globe

He made the comments at an art talk titled From Renaissance to Biennale – Contemporary Art Scene in Venice, held in Hong Kong on Oct 12 amid the launch of the ITALIA on Stage Autumn Festival Hong Kong and the opening of Kwai Fung Salone’s new exhibition Human Silk.

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Kwai Fung Salone is an arts and cultural events platform established by the Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery in April last year.

At the event, Ficarra offered his insight into the development of Italian art and culture in the new generation.

He said his consulate is organizing the ITALIA on Stage Autumn Festival Hong Kong for the next two months, to help spread awareness about Italy and its unique culture, as well as elements pertaining to lifestyle, business and other related topics.

During the 80th Venice International Film Festival last month, Create Hong Kong — a dedicated office set up by the Hong Kong government to promote the development of creative industries in the Chinese special administrative region — signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual of Italy’s Ministry of Culture.

“The perspective is to improve and possibly to work on film co-production together,” Ficarra said.

Italian curator Aurora Fonda introduces to the audience one of the classic pieces of art works from Italy.  (VIVIEN XU / CHINA DAILY)

Ficarra also introduced five important art fairs in Italy, the ones in Milan (miart), Turin (Artissima), Bologna (Arte Fiera), Verona (ARTVERONA) and Rome (Arte in Nuvola).

Next year marks the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death, and a series of events to celebrate the anniversary and commemorate the renowned explorer will be held in Italy and around the globe, he added. 

The art and cultural scene in Italy occupy prominent place in the history and development of Western Art. In particular, from its historical arts role during the Renaissance to the Venice Biennale, Venice has been an artistic mecca that fosters many creative figures, shaping the art world as we know it today, Italian curators Aurora Fonda and Sandro Pignotti said at the event.

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They also talked about the historical significance of Venice, the role of Venice Biennale in the development of contemporary art, the curatorial concept of Human Silk, as well as their visions for the School for Curatorial Studies Venice.

Italian curators Aurora Fonda and Sandro Pignotti in Italy. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

“There are so many pieces of art works (from Italy), so I can only select those who can well represent the art atmosphere of Italy,” said Fonda.

“The artistic life of the city of Venice is extremely rich,” she said, noting that the Venice Biennial is the oldest Biennial in the world and one that is worth visiting for all those who love art and culture.

Contact the writer at vivienxu@chinadailyapac.com