Cai Guo-Qiang

"Everything is Museum" is based on the premise that any place, any container can be considered as a museum. In 2001 Cai Guo-Qiang chose the arches of the Ponte di San Francesco as a space where artists can freely get contemporary art to engage with the history and the fabric of working life in the Colle di Val d’elsa area. Positioned prominently above this exhibition venue is the large neon UMoCA sign. It perfectly reflects the spirit of this Arte all’Arte event where the universal language of art combines vigorous old world forms with the sophisticated idioms of contemporary life. UMoCA is the result of a close, long-term and well-consolidated collaboration between the local council and the Associazione Arte Continua. The aim of this ambitious project is to create a link between the past and the future, the East and West, and contemporary art with the tradition craft of crystal. The bridge itself is an ancient symbol that evokes the landscape: a metaphorical connection between the city and the world that draws together different cultures. Together at UMoCA, they explore the rich expressive potential of locally manufactured crystal.

In Color Still, contemporary artist Kiki Smith has imaginatively interpreted the delicate qualities of crystal by modeling the transparent surface into sinuous, curved forms. They are then transformed into elegant illuminating bodies with the assistance and technical expertise of the Consorzio del Cristallo di Colle di Val d’elsa. The result is a fascinating installation that combines fine craftsmanship with artistic originality. It also presents new ideas for the use of the extensive green area around the bridge where, beneath the arches, Kiki’s colourful sculptures of females invite locals and tourists alike to visit this open-air museum.