A dynamic itinerary transforms the MAXXI into a hub of relationships, conviviality, and interactions.
1+1. The relational years is the first major retrospective dedicated to the Relational Art movement—three decades after its inception—curated by internationally renowned critic and curator Nicolas Bourriaud.
In the 1990s, a new generation of artists revolutionised the discourse of art by opening it up to human relationships, exploring the collective sphere, and using social practices, conviviality, interaction, groups, and communities as both materials and tools of research. The concept of Relational Aesthetics, theorised by Bourriaud in 1998, is now recognised as one of the major artistic movements of the new millennium, with its artists acclaimed worldwide. Proximity, conviviality, micro-utopias and participatory processes are the principles that unite the research of the 45 artists on display, including Vanessa Beecroft, Maurizio Cattelan, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Carsten Höller, Pierre Huyghe, Philippe Parreno, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Angela Bulloch, Liam Gillick, Douglas Gordon, Gabriel Orozco, Santiago Sierra, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres.
At a time when most of our relationships take place through screens and digital media, relational art invites us to rediscover the human dimension of encounter. The Museum is transformed into a living, permeable place where art happens and is renewed through the participation of those who pass through it.
artists on display:
Francis Alÿs, Kutluğ Ataman, Vanessa Beecroft, Monica Bonvicini, Britto Arts Trust, Angela Bulloch, Sophie Calle, Maurizio Cattelan, Lygia Clark, Braco Dimitrijević, Annika Eriksson, Alicia Framis, Liam Gillick, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Douglas Gordon, Joseph Grigely, Jens Haaning, Carsten Höller, Pierre Huyghe, Christian Jankowski, Kimsooja, Ben Kinmont, Maria Lai, Mark Leckey, Ken Lum, Lee Mingwei, Gianni Motti, Grace Ndiritu, Hélio Oiticica, OPAVIVARÁ!, Gabriel Orozco, Philippe Parreno, Pia Rönicke & Zeynel Abidin Kızılyaprak, Cesare Pietroiusti, Premiata Ditta, Anri Sala, Julia Scher, Santiago Sierra, SUPERFLEX, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Gillian Wearing, Franz West, Elin Wikström, Ian Wilson
artwork activations
Some of the works on display are activated on specific days and times — save the dates!
in the videogallery
Pakghor by Britto Arts Trust: every Saturday* from 12:30 pm
a bamboo social kitchen that turns the act of cooking into a collective experience, inviting people from different backgrounds to share stories, meals and culture in a communal space
*free admittance subject to availability
in gallery 3
Confessionarium by Alicia Framis: Friday to Sunday, 11:30 am > 1:30 pm and 4 pm > 6 pm
a transparent confession booth that makes penitents visible from the outside, prompting public reflection on transparency and accountability in society
Name Announcer by Pierre Huyghe: Friday to Sunday, 11:30 AM > 1:30 pm and 4 pm > 6 pm
at the gallery entrance, an announcer welcomes each visitor, asks their name and proclaims it aloud, turning the anonymity of the museum into a public announcement of individual presence
header: Gillian Wearing, Signs that say what you want them to say and not Signs that say what someone else wants you to say. From the left: BEST FRIENDS FOR LIFE! LONG LIVE THE TWO OF US, MORE LOVE!, I’M DESPERATE, WORK TOWARDS WORLD PEACE, 1992 – 3 © Gillian Wearing, courtesy Maureen Paley, London, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York and Regen Projects, Los Angeles
A dynamic itinerary transforms the MAXXI into a hub of relationships, conviviality, and interactions.
1+1. The relational years is the first major retrospective dedicated to the Relational Art movement—three decades after its inception—curated by internationally renowned critic and curator Nicolas Bourriaud.
In the 1990s, a new generation of artists revolutionised the discourse of art by opening it up to human relationships, exploring the collective sphere, and using social practices, conviviality, interaction, groups, and communities as both materials and tools of research. The concept of Relational Aesthetics, theorised by Bourriaud in 1998, is now recognised as one of the major artistic movements of the new millennium, with its artists acclaimed worldwide. Proximity, conviviality, micro-utopias and participatory processes are the principles that unite the research of the 45 artists on display, including Vanessa Beecroft, Maurizio Cattelan, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Carsten Höller, Pierre Huyghe, Philippe Parreno, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Angela Bulloch, Liam Gillick, Douglas Gordon, Gabriel Orozco, Santiago Sierra, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres.
At a time when most of our relationships take place through screens and digital media, relational art invites us to rediscover the human dimension of encounter. The Museum is transformed into a living, permeable place where art happens and is renewed through the participation of those who pass through it.
artists on display:
Francis Alÿs, Kutluğ Ataman, Vanessa Beecroft, Monica Bonvicini, Britto Arts Trust, Angela Bulloch, Sophie Calle, Maurizio Cattelan, Lygia Clark, Braco Dimitrijević, Annika Eriksson, Alicia Framis, Liam Gillick, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Douglas Gordon, Joseph Grigely, Jens Haaning, Carsten Höller, Pierre Huyghe, Christian Jankowski, Kimsooja, Ben Kinmont, Maria Lai, Mark Leckey, Ken Lum, Lee Mingwei, Gianni Motti, Grace Ndiritu, Hélio Oiticica, OPAVIVARÁ!, Gabriel Orozco, Philippe Parreno, Pia Rönicke & Zeynel Abidin Kızılyaprak, Cesare Pietroiusti, Premiata Ditta, Anri Sala, Julia Scher, Santiago Sierra, SUPERFLEX, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Gillian Wearing, Franz West, Elin Wikström, Ian Wilson
artwork activations
Some of the works on display are activated on specific days and times — save the dates!
in the videogallery
Pakghor by Britto Arts Trust: every Saturday* from 12:30 pm
a bamboo social kitchen that turns the act of cooking into a collective experience, inviting people from different backgrounds to share stories, meals and culture in a communal space
*free admittance subject to availability
in gallery 3
Confessionarium by Alicia Framis: Friday to Sunday, 11:30 am > 1:30 pm and 4 pm > 6 pm
a transparent confession booth that makes penitents visible from the outside, prompting public reflection on transparency and accountability in society
Name Announcer by Pierre Huyghe: Friday to Sunday, 11:30 AM > 1:30 pm and 4 pm > 6 pm
at the gallery entrance, an announcer welcomes each visitor, asks their name and proclaims it aloud, turning the anonymity of the museum into a public announcement of individual presence
header: Gillian Wearing, Signs that say what you want them to say and not Signs that say what someone else wants you to say. From the left: BEST FRIENDS FOR LIFE! LONG LIVE THE TWO OF US, MORE LOVE!, I’M DESPERATE, WORK TOWARDS WORLD PEACE, 1992 – 3 © Gillian Wearing, courtesy Maureen Paley, London, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York and Regen Projects, Los Angeles
Cataloghi della mostra
2025 exhibition’s catalogue
1+1. The relational years