ART CITY Bologna
Curated by Lorenzo Balbi
6 – 16 February 2025

The Gates of the City – A multifaceted and dynamic concept that finds expression and lives again in the Special Program of ART CITY Bologna 2025, interpreted through the language and vision of contemporary art.

Present since 1300, the Gates are clear symbols of the evolution of the city. Originally twelve, they have transformed in step with the changes in Bologna, becoming, over the centuries, silent witnesses to important events in the city, such as triumphal entries of armies, lost battles, dancing processions and struggles for anti-fascist resistance and the conquest of civil rights. Born to defend the city, the Gates of Bologna have become architectural symbols that, like compasses, help one orient oneself in the urban space. Expressions such as “Dentro Porta” and “Fuori Porta” are part of everyday language, used both by the Bolognese community and by occasional visitors to make appointments, provide directions or identify places. Since ancient times, the gates have represented ritual passages, physical spaces that mark the boundary between outside and inside, between past, present and future. Even today they evoke an idea of ​​transition and movement, representing an opening towards new perspectives and unprecedented scenarios.

Photo by Valentina Cafarotti