METAL PANIC is the first major solo exhibition by Marcello Maloberti, open until February 9 at the PAC (Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea) in Milan. Curated by Diego Sileo, this exhibition celebrates the deep connection between the artist and the city of Milan—a silent muse that has accompanied him since the beginning of his career. With METAL PANIC, Maloberti offers a heartfelt declaration of love to the city, weaving together intimate and collective stories, while the PAC space becomes a conduit for emotions and reflections, making each visit a unique experience.
Over the years, Marcello Maloberti has explored the relationship between art and life, employing a variety of visual and auditory languages—including photography, video, performance, installations, objects, and collage—all characterized by a strong performative component and an active engagement with the audience. His work, as described in the curatorial text accompanying the exhibition, «goes beyond the immediacy of daily life, with a disorienting and dreamlike neorealist gaze, combined with an archaeological approach to art history.»
The Design and Setup of Metal Panic
The setup, designed by Scandurra Studio, transforms the PAC into a living, ever-changing space inspired by the atmosphere of a contemporary construction site in constant evolution. The environments, deliberately bare and essential, isolate each work in its sacredness, creating an empty space around them that invites visitors to a truly free interaction—a balance between contemplation and movement.
«At PAC, the space becomes a device for discovering the exhibited works, inviting interaction and serving as a ground for active nostalgia: contemplation paired with movement, freely expressed in the space,» explains Alessandro Scandurra when discussing the project.
This architectural vision not only enhances the artwork but also transforms the space itself into a narrative device, a terrain to be explored. The project, developed in collaboration with in-visible lab, included contributions from 3F Filippi for lighting design and Deerns Italia for technical planning, blending aesthetics and functionality into a seamless dialogue.
ph. courtesi Andrea Rossetti
