"EARTH DAY ITALY": THE COLORS OF THE AURORA BOREALIS BY THE ARTIST EDOARDO DIONEA CICCONI AT THE HOTEL DE RUSSIE
ROME – Inside the historic monumental garden of the Hotel de Russie in Rome , designed by Giuseppe Valadier in the 19th century, from April 20, as a preview , the installation by the artist Edoardo Dionea Cicconi " 150-93 " will light up , which on the occasion of Earth Day Italy, he gives his city an aurora borealis .
From April 21st to May 19th the Hotel de Russie will host the site specific installation inside the garden “ 150-93” and the work “ XYZT ” a kinetic mirror that reflects, deforms and merges the figure of the spectator with the surrounding space.
The number “ 150-93 ” – explains a note – represents the distance between the Earth and the Sun and determines the balance of our existence. The triangular prism of mirrors – in a dialogue with nature and garden architecture – absorbs sunlight during the day and then becomes transparent during the night and, at dusk, emanates the real colors of the aurora borealis .
The artist
Edoardo Dionea Cicconi is an artist who works with installations, sculptures, sounds and other media. After eight years he returns to his hometown presenting an institutional project under the patronage of the Municipality of Rome, Earth Day Italia, in collaboration with INAF - National Institute of Astrophysics and Cadogan Gallery in London. Addressing universal themes, the artist tries to find a synthesis between art and science, investigating the concept and perception of "time". His latest solo exhibitions have been set both in museums/institutions and in site-specific land art projects.
The Hotel de Russie
Located at the foot of the Pincio hill between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps , it opened in 2000 under the sign of Rocco Forte Hotels. The history of the Hotel de Russie dates back to the early 19th century when the project for its construction was entrusted to the architect Giuseppe Valadier , who in those years was simultaneously building the two hemicycles of Piazza del Popolo.
The noble palace, which included an Italian garden divided into terraces and the adjacent palace owned by the Torlonia family, will become respectively: " Hotel of Russia" and "Hotel of the British Isles ", structures frequented by the international aristocracy. The regular visits of representatives of the Russian Imperial House , together with numerous Russian Romantic intellectuals and painters determined the name of the Hotel de Russie.
Its garden, also designed by Giuseppe Valadier, still today presents itself as a scenographic natural stage, characterized by elements of neoclassical architecture such as: terraces, balustrades, grottoes, pools, rocaille fountains, nymphaeums and statues, together with a rich botanical heritage , emphasized by the symphony of water games. The intent of the Arch Valadier was to devise, through the garden of the Hotel de Russie, an experiment in scale of what he subsequently created for the embellishment of the urban area on the slopes of Colle Pinciano: Villa Borghese.
Over time, the hotel has consolidated its reputation on the international artistic and cultural scene, hosting exponents such as: the painter Giacomo Frey; the sculptor John Gibson, a pupil of Canova; Sergei Diaghilev; Vaslav Nijinsky; Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso. In 2000 the interior renovation of the historic building was entrusted to the architect Tommaso Ziffer and carried out in collaboration with Olga Polizzi, Design Director of Rocco Forte Hotels, creating an eclectic interior design that determines a unique ' melting pot ' between historic and modern.
