Independent Collectors

Naples

Pompei, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy. Photo: Yaopey Yong

In Naples, babies are born on scooters and if you can successfully navigate the traffic, then it is said that you can drive anywhere in the world. A port city in the south, Naples is dense and offers an exciting clash of chaos and beauty. This translates to its art scene, even with street-art and graffiti in abundance on the narrow, cluttered streets, juxtaposed against the plethora of adorned historical churches and renaissance imagery. The ecosystem of Naples is a collage itself, framed by the Mediterranean Sea and picturesque Plazas. Aperitivo at Piazza Bellini can be enjoyed alongside the exposed and sunken wall ruins of the Ancient Greek city of Neapolis. Close to this hip location, is the art school Accademia di Belle Arti di Napoli and the Fondazione Morra Greco. Located in a sixteenth-century Palazzo, the once dilapidated space has a replenished glory thanks to collector and initiator Maurizio Morra Greco, together with support of public funding. This historic centre of Naples further includes the Archaeological Museum - preserving findings of Pompeii, as well as Madre museum, proudly directed by Kathryn Weir since January this year, familiar previously at the Centre Pompidou. To engage with locally founded Neapolitan galleries, of high quality there is Galleria Umberto di Marino and Alfonso Artiaco. In 2018, the affluent neighborhood of Chiaia saw the opening of London-established Thomas Dane Gallery, which brings international positions to the city and aims for its exhibitions to connect locally, also providing an on site residence for its artists as an opportunity for new Neapolitan inspiration. Just a walk away in charming Santa Lucia, is the private apartment of Francesco and Sveva Taurisano, where Collezione Taurisano and an intimate and eclectic visit, begs to be experienced. The passionate and proactive pair in their thirties love to open up their home and collection to the interested public. Birthed by a father collection of important Italian artists and historic movements, Francesco and Sveva expand Collezione Taurisano with dynamic contemporary positions from all over the world. Artists include Marinella Senatore, Athena Papadopoulos, Michael E. Smith, Appartus 22, Raphaela Vogel, Jonas Staal, Ahmet Ögüt and Débora Delmar. Despite the collection's existing domestic setting, this is no boundary or basis for “impossible” acquisitions.