At MiArt, the most expensive painting at the fair: Le Salon de Dieu by the beloved Matisse, valued at 15 million euros

Milan confirms itself as the Place to Be. And with this spirit, MiArt opens — a gathering of 185 of the world’s most influential galleries, from 19 countries. Because there’s a difference between art and an art fair.
Januaria Piromallo, Il Fatto Quotidiano , April 5, 2019

At MiArt, there's a lot — maybe too much — mirrored and multifaceted prisms, a red canoe resting on a barrel, hanging rags, artistically suspended recycled materials, semi-spheres, and sponge sculptures. Ettore Spalletti’s pale pink canvas tells us it's a work about light and color. They’re called soft sculptures — ethnic blankets from Cusco forming a “natural” arch (without any supporting structure).
A gallerist ante litteram — meaning before it became a trendy profession — Franco Calarota has run his Galleria d’Arte Maggiore g.a.m for 50 years. With its main location in Bologna, it’s a crossroads for collectors from everywhere. With nonchalance, he has hung a "Morandino" — that is, a still life by Giorgio Morandi, which costs as much as an apartment: 950,000 euros. As for Donna nel vaso by Matisse (valued at 8 million), he’s too fond of it and really hopes not to sell it. Meanwhile, Le Salon de Dieu, also by Matisse — sublime — is valued at 15 million euros.

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Various forms of storytelling emerge, with background sound echoes — like being in a theme park or a zoo — walking through corridors defined by structures of limitation and confinement, where the public is offered the possibility to choose and to act, becoming both spectator and protagonist.

 
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