Italian diplomat introduces contemporary side of Rome

Italian diplomat Umberto Vattani gives a lecture on the District of the Contemporary in Rome at Korea University in Seoul, July 10. Courtesy of Embassy of Italy in Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Korean tourists, fascinated by Rome's ancient structures such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon, are attracted by the historical charm of the city.

However, seasoned Italian diplomat Umberto Vattani believes the city's allure extends beyond its age-old grandeur. And as Rome constantly evolves, its burgeoning contemporary district is emerging as a vibrant testament to modern Italy, establishing a contrasting yet harmonious urban dynamic.

Despite being overshadowed by Rome's age-old edifices, Vattani, who served twice as secretary general of Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is now president of Venice International University, emphasized how the city's modern architectural additions, formed as part of its urban regeneration, balances and complements the rich cultural, historical and architectural heritage of the metropolis.

Taking a quick glance at Korea, especially Seoul, Vattani expressed admiration for the innovative work of Korean architects, namely Kim Swoo-geun and Seung H-sang, in shaping the city's identity.

"Trying to establish the city's identity is an important move. It would have been extremely interesting to try and explain that we were doing something similar with the contemporary Rome," Vattani told The Korea Times ahead of a special lecture at Korea University, July 10.

Vattani drew a parallel between Seoul and Rome based on their shared experiences of hosting the Olympics, which led to significant urban development and the creation of iconic infrastructure in both cities as their cultural heritage is not static but an ongoing process.

Italian diplomat Umberto Vattani gives a lecture on the District of the Contemporary in Rome at Korea University in Seoul, July 10. Courtesy of Embassy of Italy in Korea

How state-led art collection in Rome spotlights contemporary Italy beyond its Renaissance past

2023-07-20 09:11 | Theater & Others

"Rome has a long, long history of over 3,000 years. Everybody seems to believe that the ancient Rome and following that, the Renaissance and Baroque era are cultural heritage... I feel that we are somehow underestimating what has happened in the 20th century. The 20th century was an extraordinary century because a number of architects appeared, who created not only specific buildings, but urban spaces," he said.

Vattani turned his eyes outside the Aurelian Walls when Palazzo della Farnesina, Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, was built in the Foro Italico area in northern Rome. The modern-style architecture was not welcomed by diplomats at first when they moved there in 1959, thinking they had been forced to relocate into an area isolated from the center of power.

To challenge the negative perception of the building and the area, Vattani thought of bringing in contemporary art to the ministry edifice.

"I was convinced that bringing works by contemporary Italian artists into the building would have helped carry the building into the second millennium," he said.

This marked the inception of the foreign ministry's art collection, known as the Farnesina collection, which now stands as a pivotal aspect of Italy's cultural diplomacy. The collection is currently exhibited at Art Sonje Center in Seoul.

He continued to expand interest to modern buildings built in the area, such as the Olympic Village, the Flaminio Stadium, the Grand Mosque of Rome, the MAXXI museum by Zaha Hadid and Auditorium Parco della Musica by Renzo Piano.

This collection of photos by Umberto Vattani showcases the District of the Contemporary in Rome. Courtesy of Umberto Vattani

"I gave it a name ― District of the Contemporary in Rome. I was simply opposing this to the well-known part of Rome. Everybody knows the ancient Rome, but it's a very naive concept. In fact, there is a contemporary Rome and what I'm going to do is to create a new guide," he said.

Vattani created a combination of photos showing the contemporary architecture of Rome, taking inspiration from Giovanni Paolo Pannini's "Gallery of Views of Ancient Rome" (1758) and "Gallery Views of Modern Rome" (1759).

"I've taken two paintings by Pannini. The first painting depicts a gallery in the 18th century, full of paintings showcasing the ancient structures like the Arch of Constantine. The next one is a different gallery with all the paintings showing Rome in the era he lived in, so 'modern' Rome," he explained.

"I made a third 'painting' on my own in 2023. Not being a painter myself, I did the same with black-and-white photographs of the District of the Contemporary in Rome."

Vattani envisions the future of Rome's Contemporary District as an ongoing evolution and enhancement process, building bridges with countries like Korea, inspired by admiration for contemporary art and architecture.

"In essence, these art pieces serve as ambassadors, fostering exchanges that politics or economics might fail to initiate. They bring to the forefront our collective issues, amplifying understanding and dialogue about these global challenges. After all, global challenges need global solutions. Therefore, art plays a pivotal role in fostering such dialogue, reminding us of our shared humanity and interconnected struggles," he said.