Dystopian Disappointment of Fondazione Prada
A Student’s Guide to Navigating the Overwhelming Realm of Prada
By Makenzie Stockwell, Claira Panos, Greta Pagels, and Alexander Walkup
As Milan is known for their iconic fashion, Fondazione Prada is a staple to hit when visiting Milan. Prada Fondazione gives off the immediate impression that it is dystopian in nature. With metallic and mirror paneled buildings, warehouse like rooms, and raw wooden exhibits, the ambiance is very futuristic and barren. Your first stop will be in the ticket office, and don’t worry if you get lost because there are guards everywhere that are very kind and will direct you where you desire to go. Students of Milan receive a discount which is €7.50 per person, otherwise it will cost €15. Along with your ticket you will receive a map. There are seven different buildings to go into, although during the time, two of the buildings were closed to the public. Each building is designed by different artists in Prada. Some are very simplistic, and some are very exquisite. In most of the buildings, photos are prohibited. They are simply for you to enjoy and capture the story these artists are conveying. Robert Gobert, Louise Bourgeois, Jean-Luc Godard, and Thomas Demand are the featured artists in each of the towers. Tower three features the real set up of Jean-Luc Godard’s art studio in which he worked to create extraordinary films. Included in Fondazione Prada is Bar Luce which was designed by Wes Anderson in 2015.
One interesting (unexpected) thing that we encountered at the Prada museum was a ban on photography in several exhibits, something we had not encountered in American museums. Specifically, the haunted house and Suds exhibit was strictly forbidden. It is commonplace in current culture for individuals to snap photos to capture both beauty and experiences; two things that museums offer.
To understand this ban on photography within the museum we spoke with an exhibition guard in the Cinema Godard exhibit. He explained to us that in this case the ban is put into place by the artists who are protecting their artwork from both copyright and photo representations of their art that are unprofessional and capture the art in a way that was not intended. This is understandable, however it did minimize this experience we wanted to remember in some ways.
Another notable aspect of the museum was the fact that navigating through and finding the exhibits did pose a problem to us. In our limited time at the museum we struggled to find the buildings and their entrances, causing us to have to go back to the ticket office for assistance. The staff were extremely helpful, however more navigational signs would have enhanced the experience.
Another noteworthy part of Fondazione Prada is Bar Luce, designed by film director Wes Anderson. This bar was created with the influence of Italian aesthetics from the 1950s and 1960s. Speaking to his design, Anderson shared that he wanted Bar Luce to be “a space for real life with numerous good spots for eating, drinking, talking, reading, etc. While I do think it would make a pretty good movie set, I think it would be an even better place to write a movie. I tried to make it a bar I would want to spend my own non-fictional afternoons in” (fondazioneprada.org).
The foundation consists of 7 buildings.
Building 5: Torre featuring the Atlas, Accent-Sœur, and work by Jean-Luc Godard, and is by far the most elaborate and arguably the most entertaining. Filled with 9 floors of art, the mirror filled entrance leads you to a slow paced granite elevator. It does take time to open and close, so don’t fear.
Floor 2 and 3 were inaccessible.
Floor 4 displayed two large murals on opposite sides of the room. One depicts the effects of climate change in a trippy 3D statement piece . The image speaks loudly of the horrors we face due to the changing climate. It includes signs stating:
“DEMOCRACY MUST BE MORE THAN TWO WOLVES AND A SHEEP VOTING ON WHAT TO HAVE FOR DINNER”, “IT’S HOT IN HERE” , and ”4 LEGS GOOD! 2 LEGS BAD! MAKE TOFU NOT WAR!”
Each color of the 3D glasses creates an enthralling effect of removing and adding different background pieces to the main image.
The other wall shows social and political commentary. It displays the disarray and disappointment the artist finds in the current political and social climate through a culmination of issues society faces.
In the middle of floor 4 there is a vibrant blue tunnel room with beautiful antique like trinkets on display .
Floor 5 is completely filled with a clay collection. The small statues range in their themes drastically. All of them are stylistically more simple and reminiscent of claymation movies such as the incredible mr fox but a bit more child art looking. The titles of the clay displays increase the humor and cheerful artistic energy of this art. From titles like the Accent-Sœur, and more galleries from Jean-Luc Godard. The sculptures truly show personality.
Floor 6 and 7 were closed as they held a restaurant which was not open at the time of visit.
Floor 8 contained a very odd combination of art pieces. The main draw was the through line of flies.
A fly genocide was on display in three large glass enclosures. Another held a scientist studying in an identical glass box.
On the far wall there is a giant black square which is at first unassuming, yet at a closer glance one will find that it is constructed from a collection of more dead flies.
The other wall holds an array of sex paintings. And in the middle of the room close to the fly display, there is an umbrella sheltering two ducks in artificial rain. These exhibits were very eye-catching yet the connection between these pieces is a true mystery. That may be the point, to confuse visitors by the culmination of pieces, and therefore distinguish itself as an oddly memorable area.
The view from this floor should be noted as it is quite shocking and comparable to the vantage point of duomo’s roof, providing a scenic overlook of the city.
Finally, floor 9 has two main attractions. Both are held in boxes which appear to be under construction in an unfinished industrial appearance.
The first exhibit begins with a short walk down a winding dark corridor. Feeling along the bumpy walls in pure blindness the sliver of light comes as a welcome sight. This experience completely amplifies the following room. Upside down mushrooms are showcased in a room which gives the impression that you are in fact standing on the ceiling. Rotating ombre red dotted mushrooms hang from the ceiling captivating visitors with their mystical nature. The trippy exhibit makes for a popular photoshoot destination within the foundation.
The other exhibit features an image of a man laying down on a vertical grate. The connected room holds a projected video into the past. You can see a birds eye view recording of the previous room that has a 1 minute time delay, allowing you to see into the past and potentially watch yourself walk into the bland room.
The floors do feel a bit barren with their spacious nature and almost unfinished in some ways. The art is quite odd.
The other main exhibits include building number 5: Cinema Godard featuring Processo Grottesco by Tomas Demand, as a permanent installation. One of the largest 3D printed sculptures
stands still in the dark room. The marvelous cave sculpture looks incredibly real but it is also such a unique form of art.
Cave room basement ominous stairs, photo collection of cave, topographical esc cave
For more insights and information, access the Foundazione Prada Website linked here.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
10:00–19:00
Closed on Tuesdays
SPECIAL OPENINGS
March 27
Closed
April 16
10:00–19:00
TIPS FOR STUDENTS — show student card — your ticket gives access to the Prada Observatorio near Piazza Duomo for two weeks.
NEW EXHIBITS — 28 Mar — 23 Sep 2024, upcoming exhibit by Pino Pascali.
Pino Pascali with Bachi da setola, 1968'’Photo Andrea Taverna. Courtesy Fabio Sargentini — Archivio L’Attica
