Science and art to surprise us – Rome – Arte.it

Roma – We met Maria Teresa Venturini Fendipresident of the Carla Fendi FoundationOn the occasion of the initiatives that intertwine art, science and creativity by the institution. The result is a vision that evokes the doubt and unexpectedly in the middle of the creative process, as demonstrated by the meeting with William Kentridge, protagonist of the lecture “Finding the less good idea” at the Festival of the Two Worlds 2025. Lectio in Kentridgekept at Caio Melisso Theater – Space Carla FendI have performed the concept of “less good idea”, the least good idea, born on the edge of the most important and capable project, precisely for the unpredictable character, to open new creative perspectives. A reflection that Venturini Fendi has made his.

Maria Teresa, what struck her at the work of Kentridge?

Kentridge has beaten me a lot. The idea that a research center can arise from the error, from the wrong intuition, is very close to science. Newton, Einstein or Hawking also had their “Eureka” at unexpected moments when they thought of something else. It is this interdependence between case, uncertainty and creativity that generates the most important discoveries. I am a person who lives on uncertainties, of constant questions. I think extremely Kentridge knows how to convey the value of not always certainties to young people, even feel at ease, even within the doubt. I wanted a teacher like he meet in twenty years. His method is expensive because it is destroyed the logic of efficiency: real innovation can arise from the shadow areas.

Is the concept of “less good idea” linked to scientific philosophy?

Absolutely yes. Serendipity, intuition, uncertainty: they are fundamental elements to innovate. Real innovation was born out of uncertainty and doubt. The idea born of the error, of the deviation, is similar to an additional discovery in scientific research: never planned, but essential. The foundation has often worked on this link between science and art.

Where does this interest come from?

Science will change everything, not only our relationship with technology, but also our vision of creativity. I am not an expert, I am from humanistic studies, but for this reason I intrigued to face a new territory. Artificial intelligence, robotics, new discoveries will change our idea of ​​artwork. I started to attend workshops and research institutes, from Cern van Geneva At the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Rome. It was as if I opened a door for an unexpected world.

One of the first important projects was the “Back to the Big Bang” pavilion in Cern.

Yes, because mathematics today became fundamental, almost like Latin ever. We see him in schools around the world. And then there are extraordinary figures such as Fabiola GianottiThat Cern led with an exceptional vision. I believe that in addition to research, the quality of the people who guide these institutions also realize. Parallel to work with CERN, the foundation has chosen artists such as William Kentridge. Yes, because science and art have the ability to break the patterns. The company pushes us into specialization, efficiency, but it is by overcoming the rules that real change was born. This is also the reason why I really enjoyed the idea of ​​Kentridge: transforming fragility and doubt into knowledge aids.

How was the special link with Spoleto and with the Festival of the Two Worlds born?

Carla’s friendship has to do with it Gian Carlo MenottiThat I also met and with whom I worked. Just like CERN, the festival was a multidisciplinary place, able to bring experiences to Italy that would otherwise not have come. In the sixties, figures who never saw each other in Italy passed to Spoleto. It was an extraordinary laboratory.

What is the difference between the Carla Fendi Foundation and other comparable realities?

Our foundation is very different from the others because no brands have to be promoted. This gives us great freedom, and I do it in itself, as Carla wanted. I would like to think that it can also grow abroad, with artistic and social projects. And what personal relationship does he have with art? I love literature very much, but I also approached visual art thanks to Masters such as Pliny de Martis. I have a preference for the 1950s and 1960s: I consider them the original core of contemporary art, the years in which the foundation was laid for everything that came later. I am fascinated by programmed art, the search for Azimut, the penalty of Manzoni and Fontana. Nowadays, however, I sometimes see an art too decorative or provocative.

Looking at the future, what are the next steps?

We think of Spoleto 2026. I would like to work with artists like Archangel SassolinoThose machines and energy use in his works, but also with very interesting young Korean and Chinese. We will decide later and leave space for what might be surprising.

Guy Robertson, Neo Muyanga, William Kentridge, Mariatrya Venturini Fendi, Bronwyn Lace, Andrea Fabi in Spoleto for the lecture “Finding the less good idea” of July 9, 2025 – Courtesy © Foundation Carla Fendi