It is in the Easter period, more precisely from the 1st of April, that Rome hosts an exhibition dedicated to this object having a high symbolic value. The exhibition, called Art in Easter Eggs features over 40 works realised by important Italian and international artists (painters, sculptors and designers), who are asked to express their creativity using the art techniques and the material that they prefer, and having as an only limit that of taking inspiration from the shape of the egg. The results achieved in the past editions (the event has taken place since 2002) have turned this exhibition into an important artistic and cultural happening, and has attracted a number of art lovers in the cheap hotels in Rome.

This exhibition carries on a and gives new life to the tradition of decorated eggs, which was born in ancient times (when hen eggs were adorned in a rudimental way), then became widespread in the Middle Ages (when people began to create artificial eggs and to decorate them with silver, platinum and gold), and eventually became a form of art, also thanks to the eggs realised by the goldsmith Faberg?, who at the end of the 19th century began to create special eggs for the tsars.

However, Art in Easter Eggs is not only meant as an art exhibition, but above all as an event with a charitable purpose, which supports important humanitarian initiatives. Every year the works, which are displayed after the inauguration to be admired by the art lovers and the tourists who are spending a holiday in Rome, are sold, and the proceeds go to an important humanitarian project, which varies from year to year: no wonder that works which take inspiration from the shape of the egg, a symbol for life and rebirth, contribute to important charity projects. The 2009 edition of the exhibition will support the association Atena Onlus, which deals with the research in the field of neurosurgery: the proceeds coming from the sale of the works will be used to finance the research and the building of laboratories to find or improve the cure for serious illnesses.

This initiative has achieved success since its first edition, involving both many tourists, who grab the chance to plan a cheap weekend in Rome and visit the exhibition, and many VIPs, sportsmen and journalists, who support the event every year for free, an event that has redeemed the egg from the condition of mere commercial product that it has recently had, highlighting, on the one hand, that it can still be transformed into an art object, and giving back to it, on the other hand, its value as a symbol for life, rebirth and hope.

Date: 1st April 2009
Location: Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome, Italy