Ways of working: the incidental object is the first chapter of an ongoing project that examines the way in which artists have addressed the theme of work, labour, alienation and production from the twentieth century to the present day, generating new ways of working, to be precise and different approaches towards the object.

In this first chapter, as indicated by the title, it is the object that assumes the role of the protagonist. The exhibition is constructed like a map that traces the affinities in the works of artists of different generations articulating various lines of thought.

The exhibition presents a group of seminal works from the ’60s and ’70s by acclaimed artists like Stuart Brisley, who presents his 1970 monumental installation Poly Wheel, composed of 212 Robin Day stacking chairs; Enzo Mari with his democratic chair built according to the instructions of Autoprogettazione; works by Mario Merz; Charlotte Posenenske with a series di Reliefs, and Mladen Stilinović with a selection of works from the gigantic installation Exploitation of the Dead.

In dialogue with these renowned works are those of younger artists like Felipe Mujica, who proposes a new project created for the Fondazione’s courtyard; Mai-Thu Perret, whose film related to An Evening of the Book (2007) will be screened on selected nights throughout the whole exhibition period; Tobias Putrih, with a film titled The Death of Tarelkin; Falke Pisano, with the installation Figures of Speech (Formation of Crystal); several works by Gabriel Sierra; Superflex’s participatory installation Copy Light Factory (2005); and Andrea Zittel, who presents a series of new “uniforms” developed from her Personal Panel Uniforms of the nineties.