Fondazione Prada is an institution dedicated to contemporary art and culture, with three locations in Italy—one of which I recently visited in Milan. The Milan site is an open-air complex that interconnects multiple architectural structures, forming a unique environment where art and space interact. Fondazione Prada’s vast area accommodates both temporary and permanent exhibitions.
During my visit, I explored several exhibitions: Processo Grottesco by Thomas Demand, For My Family by Meriem Bennani, Haunted House by Louise Bourgeois, and Preserving The Brain: A Call To Action. Each exhibition offered a distinct narrative and message, providing individual artistic experiences. However, as a viewer, I noticed a lack of cohesion among the exhibitions. While the architecture suggested a puzzle-like interrelationship, creating the impression that the exhibitions would connect in some thematic or stylistic way, they felt isolated instead.
Despite the striking architecture, which seemed to promise an integrated narrative, the foundation’s curatorial approach didn’t provide a cohesive or overarching message linking the exhibitions. Each show felt like its own story, yet Fondazione Prada, as an institution, seemed to lack a unifying impact or purpose that resonated through the art displayed.
