“de bello. notes on war and peace”

an exhibition on war to reaffirm the urgency of peace

“de bello. notes on war and peace” is the first collective exhibition by gres art 671, the new cultural center founded in Bergamo on the initiative of Italmobiliare and promoted by Fondazione Pesenti Ets. Conceived by Gabriele Micalizzi and Salvatore Garzillo and curated by gres art 671 and 2050+, the exhibition offers a universal reflection on conflict, avoiding any reference to specific wars and instead focusing on the profound and universal emotions that every war brings with it.

37 international artists – from Marina Abramović to Alberto Burri, from Joseph Beuys to Anselm Kiefer – give life to a choral narrative that spans centuries and transcends geographical, cultural, and temporal boundaries. The exhibition, designed by studio 2050+, is divided into five sections – apparent peace, alarm, war, ruins, repair – following an emotional crescendo that engages visitors in a sensory and immersive way. A variety of expressive languages are used: hand-sewn fabrics, photographs, sculptures, videos, environmental installations, and digital works. It is a wide and layered range that combines ancient knowledge and contemporary experimentation, craftsmanship and technology, silence and noise. The exhibition is designed not only as an aesthetic experience, but also as a stimulus for reflection: a silent, rhetoric-free warning that poses open questions about the meaning of war and the possibilities of peace. As always at gres art 671, the public is not simply a spectator but is called upon to participate actively, to allow themselves to be drawn in not only by the visual impact of the works but also by the emotional intensity of the journey. “de bello” thus becomes a transformative experience that elicits empathy, responsibility, and awareness, giving visitors back the power to imagine alternatives to violence and conflict. Art confirms itself as a privileged language for questioning reality, constructing memory, and imagining the future, emphasizing the urgency of peace.

To reinforce this vision, gres art 671– in collaboration with Fondazione Pesenti Ets – has accompanied the exhibition with a public program of international significance entitled “The Culture of Peace”. A series of meetings will bring four Nobel Peace Prize laureates to Bergamo – Tawakkol Karman, Nadia Murad, Jody Williams, and Kailash Satyarthi – along with other influential figures from the world of diplomacy, human rights, and civil engagement. The program represents a unique opportunity for the public to engage with witnesses and protagonists of our time, capable of translating their experiences into tools for collective reflection, with the aim not only of telling exemplary stories, but also of building new alliances between cultures, generations, and communities. The first two meetings have already taken place, attracting a large and engaged audience in a space for listening and authentic discussion. The third meeting, scheduled for Sunday, September 14, will be dedicated to a dialogue between two extraordinary figures of contemporary activism, united by a common commitment to universal brotherhood: Jody Williams, US activist and 1997 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for her leading role in the international campaign against landmines, and Kailash Satyarthi, Indian activist awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for his fight against child labor and in defense of children's rights.

Since its opening, gres art 671 has established itself as a platform for international dialogue, attracting artists, intellectuals, and audiences from all over the world, while at the same time restoring Bergamo's central role in the contemporary cultural landscape. With this project, gres art 671 strengthens its identity as a global platform for dialogue, peace education, and social transformation. A place where art meets citizenship, where ideas become action, and where culture becomes care for the present and investment in the future.