A contemporary dialogue with Guernica

The exhibition Picasso and his passions, held at Palazzo Vistarino in Pavia, offers an exciting journey into the creative universe of one of the greatest masters of modern art. Among over two hundred works including drawings, ceramics, and oils, the exhibition also features three original Italian reinterpretations of the famous painting Guernica, created by Stefano Bressani, Paolo Baratella, and Paolo Ceribelli.

The work of Stefano Bressani: “Urlo alla vita”

Bressani’s installation, by the Pavia-born artist of 1973 known for his Sculture Vestite, is titled Urlo alla Vita (“Cry to life”). Created with recycled fabric, the work conveys a message of hope in contrast to the anguish of war depicted in Picasso’s masterpiece. An animal biting a man’s hand symbolizes the rebellion of nature and the desire for rebirth, highlighted by warm colors and a radiant sun that evoke a bright future.

The exhibition and other reinterpretations of Guernica

Promoted by The Mad Box, the event opened on December 19, 2015, and remained on view until March 20, 2016. Thanks to a multimedia screen installed in the exhibition, visitors could explore the history of Guernica and follow the creative process behind the three contemporary interpretations.

Paolo Baratella – “Per Guernica ora”

Baratella interprets the drama of war in a contemporary key, launching a clear appeal for a firm “NO” to violence and oppression. His work denounces the real causes of conflict, such as the lust for power and the control of resources, often masked by ideologies.

Paolo Ceribelli – “.CODE.”

Using a striking visual language, Ceribelli reflects on how society turns horrors into routine. The obsessive repetition of Guernica’s image becomes a warning against indifference and the cyclical resurgence of violence.

A collective reflection on Picasso’s legacy

The exhibition represents an important opportunity for dialogue between eras, styles, and languages. The works of Bressani, Baratella, and Ceribelli offer a plural reinterpretation of Guernica, keeping its symbolic power and universal message against all forms of oppression alive.