The Sandra and Giancarlo Bonollo Foundation for Contemporary Art was founded in 2023 as a non-profit institution with the aim of promoting contemporary art and new emerging artistic languages. After over thirty years of passionate collecting with an international scope, the founders, Giancarlo Bonollo and Sandra Dal Santo, have decided to share their experience with the territory with the aim of creating a reference exhibition center for international contemporary art, thanks to curators and artists who stand out for an innovative aesthetic language.
Sandra and Gianfranco Bonollo, photo credit: Giovanni Canova, courtesy Fondazione Sandra e Giancarlo Bonollo
Francesca Liggieri: I wanted to explain who you are without introducing yourself: could you describe yourself with the title of a work of art?
Sandra Bonollo: Difficult answer. If I think about the works in the collection that I prefer and their title, maybe I would describe myself with Untitled. However, I really like the title of the current exhibition by Nino Kapanadze, Rendezvous, at the foundation’s headquarters in Thiene, which is also the title of some of the works on display.
Giancarlo Bonollo: Instead, I would think of the title of the work by Paul Chan that we currently have on display: Light because the works of art that surround me are light.
What prompted you to start the foundation that bears your name and what mission do you want to pursue through it?
Sandra Bonollo: The idea of establishing a foundation was born a few years ago. We developed it together, with a dual objective. The first is to open our collection to the public, to show above all installations, videos and works suitable for a large space, perhaps lent and exhibited previously in museums or institutions, even international ones, and which are unlikely to find a place in our home space. The second is to promote young and emerging artists.
Cecilia De Nisco, “Stavo cercando il tuo cuore lì dentro ma ho trovato solo latte”, installation view at Fondazione Sandra e Giancarlo Bonollo, photo credit: Giovanni Canova, courtesy Fondazione Sandra e Giancarlo Bonollo
How do you choose the works to acquire for your collection? Are there any particular criteria you follow?
Sandra Bonollo: The choice of works begins with continuous research, almost daily for my husband. Visiting galleries, fairs, exhibitions, artists’ studios is essential. I work alongside Giancarlo, but in most cases he is the one who identifies the artist and the work to add to the collection.
Giancarlo Bonollo: I study the proposals of galleries around the world a lot and it is exciting when I find works and artists who propose new languages. Sometimes it is not immediately clear, so it takes a bit of time before choosing.
What is your creative process in selecting artists for the exhibitions organized by the foundation?
Giancarlo Bonollo: Our goal is to present in the space of the foundation young, innovative artists who have not yet been proposed in Italian institutions and galleries.
Nino Kapanadze, “Rendezvous”, installation view at Fondazione Sandra e Giancarlo Bonollo, photo credit: Giovanni Canova, courtesy Fondazione Sandra e Giancarlo Bonollo
Is there a work in your collection that you are particularly attached to? If so, which one and why?
Sandra Bonollo: This is also a difficult question. Among the works we have had at home for several years, I have a particular bond with a painting by Laura Owens, Untitled. It is a female figure, extravagant, balanced, she seems to be dancing, it is an all-female painting, it reminds me a lot of Matisse.
Giancarlo Bonollo: Personally, I am very attached to a photographic work by Nan Goldin. It was the second piece in the collection that I purchased, from White Cube, then a small gallery, more than twenty-five years ago.
What are the main changes you have observed in the contemporary art scene in recent years?
Sandra Bonollo: I have observed both the prevalence of painting over other artistic techniques and the prevalence of certain themes, for example, that of identity in all its aspects. As for the entire panorama, especially that relating to the market and new artists, I will let Giancarlo complete the answer.
Giancarlo Bonollo: In recent years it has been difficult for a collector to choose and one must be very cautious because there is a lot of supply in the contemporary art market and not always of quality. The market has expanded a lot compared to about ten years ago, it is no longer a niche. Furthermore, it seems to us that there are many purely speculative proposals.
Emily Kraus, “444 Days”, installation view at Fondazione Sandra e Giancarlo Bonollo, photo credit: Giovanni Canova, courtesy Fondazione Sandra e Giancarlo Bonollo
How does the foundation intend to foster dialogue between artists and the public?
Sandra Bonollo: The presence of the artist at the opening is important to me. It is a moment of meeting and direct knowledge with the artist. Then, communication is fundamental, especially digital. Even the presentation and explanation of the artist’s work through a guided tour can foster the public’s approach (especially local) to contemporary art. I would also add the fact that almost all the artists who have so far inaugurated a personal exhibition in the foundation by designing and creating site-specific works, is also a form of dialogue with the visitor.
What are the main challenges you faced in creating and managing the foundation?
Sandra Bonollo: We did not have any particular problems in creating the foundation. For the former church and the space that we restored, we did not encounter any difficulties at any level, indeed I must say that with the municipal administration of Thiene that granted us the space we had a positive and collaborative relationship. Managing the exhibition activity of the foundation is a bit of an adventure, we learn a lot along the way, each exhibition teaches us something new, especially regarding the logistical aspects and the dialogue with curators, artists and gallery owners.
Chiara Enzo, “Fragments of Reality”, installation view at Fondazione Sandra e Giancarlo Bonollo, photo credit: Giovanni Canova, courtesy Fondazione Sandra e Giancarlo Bonollo
What advice would you give to collectors and emerging artists who want to enter the world of contemporary art?
Giancarlo Bonollo: As for collectors, the advice I would give is not to see the fairs (selecting only the most important ones like Basel) but to visit the exhibitions in galleries and public institutions. By this I mean not only the Italian ones but also in Great Britain, France, Germany and Belgium, if we limit ourselves to Europe. As for artists, the same advice applies and I would also suggest doing residencies or stays abroad.
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Independent artist and curator. Founder of No Title Gallery in 2011. I observe, study, ask questions, take informations and live in contemporary art, a real stimulus for my research.
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