(Pavilion)Famous artworks to highlight Italy, Vatican pavilions

The Italian pavilion for the 2025 World Exposition has gained inspiration from Renaissance ideals of urban planning, featuring a theater, square and garden, while the famous Farnese Atlas statue will serve as the crown jewel of the exhibition.

The 2.1-meter tall marble sculpture of Atlas holding up a celestial sphere — which dates back to the 2nd century — will be on display in Japan for the first time.

Image shows artistic rendition of the Farnese Atlas statue at the Italian pavilion for the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka. (Photo courtesy of Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka)(Kyodo)

“I believe many people from Asia will visit the expo, and I want them to see a genuine work of art,” Mario Vattani, commissioner general for Italy at the expo, said in Tokyo in June, speaking about his country’s exhibition, whose theme is “Art regenerates life.”

The Renaissance was an arts, science and cultural movement that originated in Italy in the 14th century.

The Italian pavilion, with a colosseum-like exterior, will be a modern reinterpretation of the “Ideal City,” which emerged in 15th century art and served as a representation of the Renaissance’s theoretical idea of a perfect urban environment, according to the company that has designed the pavilion.

Image shows artistic rendition of the exterior of the Italian pavilion for the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka. (Photo courtesy of Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka)(Kyodo)

Italy will also collaborate with the Holy See pavilion, hosting cultural events and art exhibitions for the Vatican City in its pavilion for the first time during a World Expo, an official of the Italian embassy said.

The Holy See, under its theme “Beauty brings hope,” will exhibit “The Deposition,” one of the most renowned masterpieces by Caravaggio (1571-1610).

The painting depicting Christ being taken down from the cross had been planned to be shown at the National Art Center, Tokyo in 2021, but the exhibition was canceled as the coronavirus pandemic made it impossible to bring the painting housed in the Vatican Museums to Japan, according to the art center.

Image shows artistic rendition of the rooftop garden at the Italian pavilion for the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka. (Photo courtesy of Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka)(Kyodo)

In addition to the theater for opera performances, and a space for showcasing the latest technologies and artwork, the Italian pavilion will provide food and wine at a restaurant, where guests can also enjoy a view of a rooftop garden.

The garden can also be seen from the Grand Roof, the emblem of the expo and one of the world’s largest wooden structures with a circumference of approximately 2 kilometers, on which pedestrians can stroll.

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