Two historic museums unite to explore tradition, rupture and reinterpretation across more than fifty works.
A Unified Exhibition Across Milan and Naples
Nicola Samorì’s Classical Collapse unfolds as a single, interconnected exhibition shown simultaneously at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan and the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte in Naples. Curated by Demetrio Paparoni, Alberto Rocca and Eike Schmidt, the project bridges Northern and Southern Italy from late November through early 2026. More than fifty works are placed in conversation with masterpieces from each museum, creating an exchange between the endurance of classical tradition and its reshaping through contemporary vision.
Samorì’s Artistic Language
Samorì’s practice is rooted in excavation, rewriting and deliberate rupture. His paintings and sculptures often bear marks, distortions and eroded surfaces that question the permanence of the classical canon. At the Ambrosiana, these works interact with Renaissance and Baroque heritage, opening fractures within the human form and challenging the stability of memory. At Capodimonte, the exhibition heightens contrasts such as matter versus illusion and creation versus ruin, prompting reflection on the human condition through layered artistic tension.
Works That Reshape Classical Icons
Many of Samorì’s pieces involve overlaying classical compositions with new paint layers that are later scraped or torn to reveal submerged fragments. These interventions turn familiar imagery into unsettling reinterpretations that intensify the dialogue between past and present. His sculptural works echo this approach through intentional wounds and distortions, emphasizing fragility and the vulnerability of tradition. Each artwork acts as a site where heritage is reconsidered rather than preserved unchanged.
