Franco Battiato. Un’altra vita

The Spazio Extra of MAXXI - Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI secolo hosts the event-exhibition dedicated to Franco Battiato, one of the most loved and visionary artists of all time, who left an extraordinary and revolutionary mark on the history of Italian music.

Five years after his passing, Franco Battiato. Another Life pays tribute to the human and musical genius of a truly unique figure, capable of moving freely through languages, eras and sensibilities with absolute independence.

Memories, documents and previously unseen materials accompany visitors on a deep and engaging journey through his life and work – an emotional experience that transcends music and time, touching intimate and universal chords alike.

A talented singer-songwriter, musician, poet, philosopher and intellectual, Battiato ranged from avant-garde to pop, from electronic experimentation to mystical exploration, reinventing the Italian song through visionary lyrics, refined harmonies, timeless melodies and an unmistakable sound.

The exhibition unfolds across seven sections, tracing his artistic and human evolution:

1. Gli inizi (from Sicily to Milan)
2. La sperimentazione (from acoustic to electronic)
3. Il successo (from avant-garde to pop)
4. Il misticismo (between East and West)
5. L’uomo (a return to origins)
6. Il maestro
7. Dal suono all’immagine (Battiato’s cinema)

At the heart of the exhibition space lies an octagonal environment, a symbolic reference to the musical octave, representing the beating heart of the show. Here, an immersive sound system leads visitors into a sonic and almost meditative experience.

Iconic album covers, historic posters, photographs and rare memorabilia reveal every facet of Battiato: innovator, experimenter, trailblazer. Alongside his music emerges his pictorial universe, filled with gilded backgrounds, symbols and archetypes – visions infused with spirituality and inspired by the Middle Eastern aesthetic and imagery so dear to the Sicilian Maestro.

In the last twenty years of his work, his cinematic research also took shape: narrative films and documentaries that converse with his music and amplify its meaning, offering a lucid and profound reflection on both contemporary life and human inner worlds.

Enriched with moments of reflection and discovery, the exhibition stands as a tribute to life beyond death, to the luminous and gentle soul of one of the greatest Italian geniuses of our time. It is an invitation to rediscover, through his works, that “permanent centre of gravity” which, deep down, each of us continues to seek.

Co-produced by the Ministero della Cultura  and MAXXI – Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo, the exhibition is curated by Giorgio Calcara with Grazia Cristina Battiato and organised by C.O.R. Creare Organizzare Realizzare, founded by Alessandro Nicosia, in collaboration with the Franco Battiato Foundation ETS.

Cover image: Franco Battiato © Franco Battiato Foundation