A comprehensive (some 130 pieces) retrospective of Maurizio Cattelan’s works is on view at the Guggenheim. Perhaps known as much as a provocateur as an artist, Cattelan’s pieces have often inspired controversy. The Guggenheim’s show is eye-catching and initially seems messy. The pieces are strung from the ceiling in the museum’s atrium in an amazing hodgepodge. As you make your way up the spiral ramp, you notice single pieces; some things come into focus, others go out. Some works are obvious, others less so. In the end it’s not so overwhelming and there is a sense of well-coreographed fun. The show (and show it is) runs through January 22nd.
Category: Reviews (page 4 of 6)
Andrea Camilleri’s Il gioco degli specchi (2011) is the eighteenth in the commissario Montalbano series. This book is more gripping than some of the other recent ones have been. It is more sophisticated and the old humor and irony are back. While not leaving out the more horrific and gruesome aspects of today’s world, the story includes pearls of wisdom and great comedy scenes. There is also more dialect – but after 18 books it’s fun and no longer a challenge for non-Sicilian readers. At this point the characters could seem repetitive but instead they feel like part of the family. Best of all, the antipatica Livia’s presence is limited to a few phone calls. In all, a pleasurable read.
Niccolo’ Ammaniti tells a coming of age story in Io e te (2010). Lorenzo, a 14-year old misfit with no friends, fools his parents into thinking he’s on a ski-trip while in reality he’s moved into a basement storage area for a week – his idea of paradise. His little-known half sister suddenly shows up, throwing his plans for a loop and forcing him to do some growing up. The story is spare and direct and the ending, though unsurprising, is tough and realistic.
Birreria, Eataly’s rooftop beer garden is now open. In the evening lines to get in are long, but at lunch time things are calmer. The general ambiance is pleasant. Beer is brewed right on the roof, the fried shiitake mushrooms are excellent, as are the many sausages sampled. As with the rest of Eataly, quality is high along with the prices.
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