September is a wonderful time to visit Italy, making it the perfect occasion to explore Milan’s rich art scene and the GAM’s – Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Milan – diverse exhibitions. Mark your calendars for September 13, 2024, for the GAM’s unveilling of “Converging Figures,” a solo exhibition that invites viewers to engage in deep reflection through the work of acclaimed Japanese-American artist, Kelly Akashi. Curated by Furla’s Artistic Director, Bruna Roccasalva, this event marks the sixth edition of the Furla Series, a collaborative initiative between Fondazione Furla and GAM that highlights contemporary art. Since 2017, the Furla Series has celebrated the contributions of women to contemporary culture. Through collaborations with major Italian art institutions, this initiative provides a platform for female artists to engage in a vibrant cultural exchange.

Italy premiere

“Converging Figures” is the first of its kind in Italy dedicated exclusively to Kelly Akashi. Known for her ability to harmoniously blend conceptual depth with meticulous craftsmanship, Akashi’s work delves into the profound themes of time, space, the impermanence of nature and the ephemeral nature of the human body. These challenging subjects give her prolific art a captivating duality, making it appear both simple and complex, precise and amorphous.

Kelly Akashi, Converging Figures, 2019 59 x 164 x 104.5 in (149,9 x 416,6 x 265,4 cm) Courtesy of the artist and Lisson Gallery. Photo: Paris Tavitian

The art of reflection

The theme of this exhibition centers on the concept of reflection, with Akashi crafting a visionary journey that weaves through GAM’s permanent collection. Her creations interact with the museum’s architecture and masterpieces, inviting viewers into a dialogue that challenges perceptions and encourages a broader, less human-centered viewpoint.

“Converging Figures” is an invitation to embark on a contemplative journey, rich with symbols of time. The exhibition features snake-like candles coiled into branches, highlighting Akashi’s fascination with time and its passage. This interest is further evident in her study of fossils and botany, placing humanity within an expansive geological timeline. Her works often combine hand-blown glass or wax forms with unique bronze casts of her own hand, each piece becoming a tangible record of the slow, inevitable change of the human body.

Mastery of materials

Kelly Akashi’s artistry highlights her mastery across a large variety of materials and techniques, including glass, wax and bronze. Rooted in analog photography, she gravitates towards fluid, impressionable materials and traditional craft techniques such as glass blowing, casting, candle making and rope making. Her studio featured in the image below is filled with forms that mimic natural elements: plants, flowers, shells and as mentioned earlier even parts of her own body. These elements, often arranged in delicate and poetic compositions, provoke existential contemplation through their familiar yet estranging forms. Because after all, what is the essence of art, if not its ability to prompt profound existential reflection?

Artist Kelly Akashi, photographed in her Los Angeles studio

We invite you to experience “Converging Figures” at GAM – Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Milan – from September 13 to December 8, 2024. Immerse yourself in the remarkable convergence of history, material and reflection through the unique vision of Kelly Akashi. This exhibition promises to leave a contemplative impression, offering a fresh perspective on the ever-changing narrative of existence.

Images are courtesy of Fondazione Furla.