Creating synergy and dialogue between artistic creativity and industrial production, to tell the story of Italian enterprise abroad through the language of art: this is the goal of the “We Love Art. Vision and Creativity Made in Italy” project.

We Love Art is a cultural patronage project of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Fondazione Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. The project supported eight young Italian artists in the creation of works of art inspired by the Italian industrial tradition.

The project includes an international tour, which kicked off last September 27 in Seoul, South Korea, with the exhibition of the eight works that the young artists created, inspired by eight of the main companies owned by the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Group (CDP).

The We Love Art project is inspired by the “Sculptures in the city” exhibition, held in Spoleto in 1962 and consisting of metal works created in the workshops of Italian steel company Italsider by a group of international artists. Following the same suggestion, the curators of the We Love Art project invited the participants to create a work inspired by the production and conceptual processes of some important Italian companies.

Art critic and co-curator of the "We Love Art" project Ludovico Pratesi — Art critic and co-curator of the “We Love Art” project Ludovico Pratesi

Ansaldo Energia, CDP Immobiliare, ENI, Open Fiber, Snam, Terna, TIM and Webuild are the eight CDP Group companies that have inspired the same number of young artists – Namsal Siedlecki, Amedeo Polazzo, Tomaso de Luca, Benni Bosetto, Alice Ronchi, Giulia Cenci, Giulio Saverio Rossi and Lulú Nuti. The artists have reinterpreted the spirit of the company assigned to them through the use of different techniques and materials: the result is eight works with different style and sensitivity, but all capable of telling the greatness of Italian industry.

The initiative, curated by art critic Ludovico Pratesi together with curator Marco Bassan promotes a new form of patronage based on public and private partnership.

As journalist Giulia Giaume writes in an article published on Italian online outlet Artribune, “We Love Art was conceived to improve the relationship between art and industry, expressing its potential through targeted artistic assignments, and to collect the legacy of patronage in a contemporary key.”

Co curator of the "We Love Art" project Marco Bassan — Co curator of the “We Love Art” project Marco Bassan

“Patronage is a phenomenon that has characterized the relationship between society and art in Italy for centuries, to the point that it can be considered one of its founding elements” explains Lorenzo Angeloni, general manager for the Promotion of the Country System of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Contemporary Italy has not forgotten this precious heritage and patronage today continues to be a phenomenon that accompanies the development of Italian art and society. The new patrons are foundations, companies and associations and public institutions which, especially in recent years, have shown a renewed interest in contemporary art“.

The eight works created with the contribution of CDP Foundation gave life to a collective exhibition inaugurated in Seoul, South Korea. The international exhibition, thanks to the support and collaboration of Italian Embassies, Consulates and Cultural Institutes, will then travel to Chongqing, China, where it will open its doors on 10 December 2021, and then to New York, Mexico City, Cairo and Berlin.