Even though I heard the word 'futurism' bandied around over the years, reading Back to the Futurists (BBC, February 20) made me realize that I did not know much about what the original movement stood for.
Lawrence Pollard starts by sharing that Futurism 'called for the demolition of museums and libraries, contempt for women and the glorification of war, "the world's only hygiene" they said'…
I also learned that this precursor to surrealism and dadaism was founded by Italian millionaire and poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti who was not shy about self promotion.
I could not help but notice the picture of Futurist Luigi Russolo with his art of noise machine who declared in 1913 "Noise triumphs
and reigns supreme over the sensibilities of men" says Mr Pollard.
British band Art of Noise picked its name from Luigi Russolo's treaty on the topic?
The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art in London offers Futurism 100 until April 19.
To offer more opportunities for people to check the show, they keep their doors opened until 8pm on Thursdays.
Besides sculptures by Umberto Boccioni it features and installation by Luca Buvoli an Italian-born artist who now lives
in New York City.
Titled 'Velocity Zero', it "explores the themes that fascinated the Futurists and
the gulf between the ideals that the movement’s members espoused and
the reality of their application."
If you visit Milan, the Palazzo Reale offers FUTURISMO 1909-2009 – VELOCITÀ+ARTE+AZIONE until June 7 with paintings, artifacts and even ceramics.
Local magazine ViviMilano chose the exhibit for its cover (below).
Want to check how the rest of the world celebrates 100 Years of Futurism, Italian Fururism keeps us updated.
On my first visit to the site I actually learned the Futurism manifesto was originally published in French daily Le Figaro…and that the Museum of Modern Art in New York has its own show titled Words in Freedom: Futurism at 100 running until April 6, 2009.
Back to the future of Now!
More Museum stories: Dinner and A Night at the Museum: Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid