back	October 31, 2008 RSS

Container Art & Vroom, Urban Oases of Creativity

Containers. You know, those giant metal boxes used for goods transport. They can also be used for emergency accommodation in natural catastrophes, or other extreme situations. They are useful objects, emotionless, and free of any charm, aesthetic appeal or creative potential. At least, that appeared to be the case. And that is precisely the challenge of the Container Art project: How to use these objects, which we otherwise know only from the circumstances outlined above, as urban oases where it is possible to enjoy contemporary works of art. The containers are small museums spread throughout the city, open to everybody from art lovers to the curious, from residents to tourists. They are symbols of the increased value of urban space. A value increase based largely on art and contemporary design. Container Art' is not new. The event is actually in its fourth year, and this year is located in the three most important cities of the 'Paduan axis': Milan (from October 24 to November 2), Turin (from October 31 to November 9), and Venice (from November 7 to December 7). Just imagine strolling along the Corso Cadorna in Milan: You cast a look inside the metal cuboid and discover, to your delight, that a real exhibition has been set up inside. This is a possibility, wherever and whenever Container Art is made: Situated in the immediate vicinity of traditional homes of art exhibitions (museums, festivals, fairs etc.), the containers provide an aesthetic experience well beyond the conventional. Now imagine that you can interact with that exhibition. But how? In different ways. In some containers, you can leave a comment in the computers provided for that purpose. Comments that will eventually be turned into a ‘strog', that is, an audio-visual street blog. The free press releases On Plane Art which are distributed in the areas surrounding the containers give everyone the opportunity to design their own container in the next edition of Container Art. And the camera manufacturer Lomo invites guests to photograph the containers, and publishes the photos in the next event catalogue. But Container Art is also an invisible thread, connecting distant and disparate spaces through the collective experience of art. In Turin, in the Piazza Castello, a container is planned which will be connected to an installation on Skanderberg Square in Tirana, an initiative of the two artists Leonard Sherifi and Genc Shkodrani. The multitude of installations will impress you with their powerful modesty: From the provocation of Michele Graglias, who exhibits 10,000 euros cut into rough pieces, to the artwork of Marco Ceruttis, which the observer steps into to become part of the work through a system of projections and video cameras. Of course, MINI could not ignore an event, or, better, a series of events, as enthusiastic and revolutionary as this. And accordingly, MINI has become one of the most important sponsors of Container Art. Furthermore, MINI will also participate in the ‘Vroom' (video room) project, an experience which may be had inside the elegant MINI Clubman. Some of the cars will drive around the city at the same time as Container Art events are being held. The cars will be transformed into small spaces, in which it will be possible to experience genuinely special video art from the ‘Videoart Yearbook' (University of Bologna). Beyond that, you can find ‘Vroom' in conjunction with the Container Art events at MINI dealers in Milan, Turin and Venice. Here, you will be able to admire the digital and interactive artwork of Vincenzo Marsiglias. And there's even more: Are you organizing a cultural event, a fashion festival or an exhibition? Do you want to put the icing on the cake for your event in terms of class and originality? You need do no more than submit an enquiry at www.videoroom.mobi to have a MINI Clubman Vroom present at your event. But we don't want to give too much away, because we want to keep your curiosity levels high. At any rate, we're sure that the containers and the Vrooms will surprise you with their hidden treasures, and leave you open-mouthed. Where and when Container Art Milan, 24/10  to 02/11 : Corso Como, Stazione Cadorna, Corso Garibaldi and near the Triennale. Turin, 31/10 to 9/11: Piazza Vittorio, Piazza CLN and Piazza Castello (for the container connected to Tirana) Venice (Mestre), 07/11 to 07/12: The containers will be located in the centre of both parts of Venice. Find out exactly where they will be at: www.containerart.org Vrooms `Hemerocallis`, by Daniela di Marco and Roberto Pugliese (Milan, 24/10 to 02/11) `Anomalia Italiana`, by Devis Venturelli (Turin, 31/10 to 09/11) `22 Cerniere Casuali`, by Diego Zuelli (Venice (Mestre), 07/11 to 16/11) `Interactive Star`, by Vincenzo Marsiglia (MINI Milano, Via della Unione Europea 1 in San Donato Milanese, 24/11 to 31/10; BIAUTO, Via Bologna 102a in Turin, 03/11 to 09/11; Motorsport Mestre, Via Orlanda 8d in Mestre, 12/11 to 19/11)
Related Links Containerart
Videoroom