Paris - To mark the 70th anniversary of the sister-city partnership between Rome and Paris, the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris presents "Ceccotti-Passeretti: Metaphysics of Time," an exhibition curated by Antonio Calbi and Andrea Iezzi.
Born in Rome a decade apart, tied by a long-standing friendship and a deep affinity for Paris, artists Sergio Ceccotti and Umberto Passeretti have forged two distinct visual styles. Yet, both remain bound by a shared reflection on time, memory, and the heritage of Italian figurative art.
For Umberto Passeretti, antiquity is a living presence. Having lived in close contact with Hadrian’s Villa for years, he places the classical world at the heart of his artistic exploration - reinterpreting classical sculptures, drapery, and anatomy through a pursuit of harmony and balance. In his work, the past acts as a dynamic force, constantly resurfacing and transforming in the present.
Conversely, different eras coexist simultaneously in Sergio Ceccotti’s work. Rome and Paris, interior spaces, architecture, personal memories, cinema, surrealism, and noir atmospheres weave together into an universe where everyday life takes on an enigmatic dimension. French writer Philippe Soupault famously dubbed Ceccotti's work "insolite quotidien" (unusual everyday), highlighting his knack for turning the familiar into the unexpected.
Paris plays a pivotal role in both artists' trajectories. Passeretti studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in the 1960s, immersing himself in the vibrant cultural movement of the era. For Ceccotti, the French capital became a second artistic home - a hub for crucial exhibitions, meetings, and professional milestones. Their friendship began in the late 1960s through painter and printmaker Sergio Birga; since then, their paths have continually intersected between Rome and Paris while preserving their distinct artistic identities.
"Ceccotti-Passeretti: Metaphysics of Time" brings these two creative journeys into direct dialogue: Passeretti’s re-imagining of antiquity alongside Ceccotti’s layering of time and memory. Together, they offer two distinct perspectives on interrogating the past to make sense of the present.
The opening preview (vernissage) takes place Thursday, September 10 at 7:00 PM, featuring both artists, curators Antonio Calbi and Andrea Iezzi, and art historian Julie Borgeaud, who contributed to the catalogue. The exhibition opens to the public from September 11 through November 5.