Maurizio Cattelan: Eternity

The Exhibition

In April 2018, the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara hosted Eternity, a project conceived by Maurizio Cattelan on the occasion of his appointment as Honorary Professor of Sculpture, under the coordination of director Luciano Massari. The financial support provided by sponsor Huawei made it possible to launch a competition worth a total of €30,000, open to students of the Academy. Eternity invited the creation of works inspired by funerary imagery, containing the dates of birth and death of an artist of the artist's choice, not necessarily deceased. Cattelan's “cemetery” ended up inhabiting not only the garden in front of the main building and some of its interior spaces, from the Marble Hall to the Anatomy Hall, but also spread throughout the city, thanks to the appearance of some mysterious obituaries which, in a sombre atmosphere of student pranks, also announced the sad passing of the director and the artist.

The conclusion of the event led to the awarding of nineteen scholarships and two special mentions, rewarding the ability of the works to consciously address the theme of death and pay a meaningful tribute to the chosen artist.