IMPORT EXPORT proudly announces that “The Eye and the Ear” (1944/45) by Franciszka and Stefan Themerson will join the collection of GAM Torino (Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Turin). The acquisition is possible thanks to Fondazione Arte CRT.
"The Eye and the Ear" was a part of IMPORT EXPORT's presentation at Artissima fair this year. See more info and installation views here.
First screened in 1945, the black and white "The Eye and The Ear" explored the relationship between the optic and the sonic by translating poems by Julian Tuwim and music scores of Polish composer Karol Szymanowski into visually enthralling compositions. Made in four chapters, the film juxtaposed animations derived from photograms with music performed by Ronald Biggs orchestra and voice of Sophie Wyss. Originally recorded in 35 mm, the film was recently restored and digitalised.*
Chiara Bertola, Director of GAM, said: “I am very pleased that the GAM collection is being enriched with works by artists who, although coming from different contexts, maintain a deep connection with the history of Italian and European art. The acquisitions of David Schutter, Simon Callery, Alessandro Pessoli, Marco Cingolani, and the duo Franciszka and Stefan Themerson reflect the museum’s commitment to supporting artistic research that transcends geographical and temporal boundaries, while finding in Italy an ideal point of reference. These works engage in dialogue with both the history and the contemporaneity of painting and the moving image, strengthening GAM’s mission to build a living collection capable of reflecting the complexity and vitality of art today, also through the history.”
- Turin, 1 November 2025 | Click here to read in full.
The Scientific Committee of Fondazione Arte CRT was represented by Hans Ulrich Obrist (Artistic Director, Serpentine Galleries, London), Susanne Pfeffer (Director, Museum MMK für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt), Vicente Todolí (Artistic Director, Fondazione Pirelli HangarBicocca, Milan); Manuel Segade Lodeiro (Director, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid) and Suhanya Raffel (Director, M+ Museum, Hong Kong).
Chiara Bertola, Director of GAM, said: “I am very pleased that the GAM collection is being enriched with works by artists who, although coming from different contexts, maintain a deep connection with the history of Italian and European art. The acquisitions of David Schutter, Simon Callery, Alessandro Pessoli, Marco Cingolani, and the duo Franciszka and Stefan Themerson reflect the museum’s commitment to supporting artistic research that transcends geographical and temporal boundaries, while finding in Italy an ideal point of reference. These works engage in dialogue with both the history and the contemporaneity of painting and the moving image, strengthening GAM’s mission to build a living collection capable of reflecting the complexity and vitality of art today, also through the history.”
- Turin, 1 November 2025 | Click here to read in full.
The Scientific Committee of Fondazione Arte CRT was represented by Hans Ulrich Obrist (Artistic Director, Serpentine Galleries, London), Susanne Pfeffer (Director, Museum MMK für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt), Vicente Todolí (Artistic Director, Fondazione Pirelli HangarBicocca, Milan); Manuel Segade Lodeiro (Director, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid) and Suhanya Raffel (Director, M+ Museum, Hong Kong).
November 1, 2025
