{"id":1227,"date":"2025-04-03T12:47:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T12:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/butticontemporanea.it\/museum-polo\/"},"modified":"2025-06-04T09:55:51","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T09:55:51","slug":"museum-polo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/butticontemporanea.it\/en\/museum-polo\/","title":{"rendered":"MUSEUM COMPLEX \u2013 BUTTI | CONTEMPORANEA"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MUSEUM COMPLEX \u2013 BUTTI | CONTEMPORANEA<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>

PRESENTATION<\/h1>\n

The Butti Museum | Contemporary is the central hub of the Civic Museums system of Viggi\u00f9, a Lombard town near the Swiss border, historically renowned as a center of excellence in the Italian sculptural tradition. The area\u2019s rich artistic heritage\u2014shaped by the presence of stone quarries and numerous workshops active since the 19th century\u2014has forged a strong and distinctive cultural identity. This legacy is reflected in the structure of the museum complex, which brings together various institutions sharing the same historical and artistic roots. <\/p>\n

At the heart of this multifaceted system lies the Butti Museum, named after Enrico Butti (1847\u20131932), a prominent figure in Italian sculpture who lived and worked in Viggi\u00f9. His former residence, now fully restored, houses the Butti Museum | Contemporary\u2014so named in 2023 by curator Veronica Zanardi on the occasion of the inauguration of new exhibition spaces. This section, dedicated to contemporary art, was conceived as a dynamic space for exchange, experimentation, and dialogue among diverse artistic languages. The museum’s transformation into a hub open to contemporary art was strongly advocated by Gottardo Ortelli, director of the museum from 1977 to 1995. <\/p>\n

During his tenure, Ortelli introduced an innovative curatorial approach aimed at moving beyond a purely conservationist model to promote vibrant and participatory artistic programming. He established the Orsa Prize, initiated numerous collaborations with leading artists and critics, and curated high-profile exhibitions, launching a contemporary art section that laid the foundation for today\u2019s Butti Museum | Contemporary. His goal was to create a cultural project capable of enhancing the territory through the language of art, fostering ongoing dialogue between tradition and modernity. <\/p>\n

Today, the Museum continues in this direction, asserting itself as a driving force for artistic and cultural activity, in constant dialogue with academic institutions, museum networks, and cultural practitioners. It has renewed its historic partnership with the Brera Academy, strengthening an identity bond that dates back to the museum’s origins. Over the years, many professors and artists associated with the Academy have helped shape a robust cultural offering grounded in scientific rigor and an openness to contemporary artistic discourse. In this same spirit, the Museum has also initiated collaboration with the Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara, in line with the region\u2019s sculptural vocation. <\/p>\n

The Butti Museum | Contemporary is now an integral part of the Enrico Butti Civic Museums of Viggi\u00f9, a complex that also includes the Butti Plaster Cast Gallery (Gipsoteca), the Museum of 20th-Century Viggi\u00f9 Artists, the 19th-Century Sculpture Museum of Viggi\u00f9, and the Picasass Museum.<\/p>\n

The Collection<\/strong><\/p>\n

The formation of the Contemporary Art Collection at the Museum was made possible through acquisitions and the generosity of numerous artists who, sharing the institution\u2019s cultural mission, donated works as a tangible show of support. The core of the collection consists primarily of paintings, but also includes drawings, design studies, and works on paper, selected for their documentary value and ability to capture the early stages of the creative process. <\/p>\n

Drawing, understood as a primary tool of invention and reflection, plays a central role in the Museum\u2019s curatorial approach. Accordingly, the Museum is committed to gradually building a collection organized around the two conceptual poles of an artwork\u2019s genesis and its completed realization\u2014highlighting the full complexity of the creative process. <\/p>\n

The value of these works\u2014often private, intimate, and sometimes previously unseen\u2014lies in their ability to document the less visible phases of artistic practice, adding depth to the museum experience. As Fausto Melotti, who was the subject of a celebrated exhibition at the Museum in 1981, once observed:
\u201cTo every artist, drawings are dear, for they each time bring back that obscure moment in the genesis of a work of art.\u201d <\/p>\n

Cultural Programming and Local Networks<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Butti Museum | Contemporary is distinguished by a consistent and high-quality exhibition program that has, over the years, featured nationally and internationally recognized artists, alongside emerging figures and \u201cperipheral\u201d voices whose critical value lies outside mainstream narratives. This emphasis on quality and originality has enabled the Museum to establish itself as a reference point in the Lombardy museum landscape, enriching the region\u2019s cultural offerings.
\nIts participation in the Contemporary Archives Network, coordinated by the MA*GA Museum in Gallarate and supported by the Integrated Cultural Plans (PIC 2020\/2021) of the Lombardy Region, is a meaningful acknowledgment of its work in promoting local identity through art and culture. This award-winning project, praised for activating synergy among public and private entities, has strengthened institutional relations and encouraged the sharing of resources and expertise. In this context, contemporary art emerges as a tool for social cohesion and cultural regeneration, fostering new narratives of identity in a region united by shared historical and productive values. <\/p>\n

From this perspective, the Museum\u2019s PCTO (Work-Related Learning) projects with the \u201cA. Frattini\u201d Art High School of Varese are particularly significant. These initiatives involve students in formative experiences related to exhibition design, the creation of graphic and pictorial materials, event documentation, and the production of site-specific artworks such as murals and temporary installations within both museum and urban spaces. These activities reinforce the Museum\u2019s role as a cultural hub rooted in the community and engaged with the dynamics of contemporary artistic practice. <\/p>\n

Mission<\/strong><\/p>\n

The mission of the Butti Museum | Contemporanea is structured around five key pillars:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Promoting contemporary artistic production as a tool for interpreting the present,<\/strong> through exhibitions and collaborations with academic and cultural institutions;<\/li>\n
  2. Preserving and enhancing<\/strong> the cultural and artistic heritage of Viggi\u00f9, with special attention to its contemporary developments;<\/li>\n
  3. Developing educational and training activities<\/strong> aimed at various public entities, to foster cultural access and active participation in museum life;<\/li>\n
  4. Conserving and documenting<\/strong> creative processes, with particular emphasis on drawing and the planning phases of artwork;<\/li>\n
  5. Strengthening territorial<\/strong> integration by reinforcing local cultural networks and promoting a museum model based on sustainability, collaboration, and innovation.
    \nConclusion
    \nToday, the Butti Museum | Contemporary stands as a cultural institution capable of reinterpreting the historical legacy of its territory through a contemporary lens, promoting a vision of art that bridges memory and future, local roots and international openness. With a strong network of partnerships and a valuable cultural heritage, the Museum is committed to actively contributing to the development of a widespread, accessible, and inclusive culture, thereby supporting the cultural, social, and economic growth of the community. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Founder
    \n<\/u>Gottardo Ortelli<\/p>\n

    Curator and Museum Director<\/u>
    \nVeronica Zanardi<\/p>\n

    Communications<\/u>
    \nAllegra Pallaoro<\/p>\n

    Mayor<\/u>
    \nEmanuela Quintiglio<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/main><\/div><\/div>