Maurizio Cattelan and Nicolas Ballario: La Fine Allegra
La Fine Allegra: Cattelan's Breakfast Performance at Milano Art Week.
Milano Art Week begins on 1 April, but artist Maurizio Cattelan and journalist Nicolas Ballario set the stage early with La Fine Allegra (The Cheerful End). On 2 April at 7 a.m., they host a unique breakfast gathering in Piazza del Duomo, where coffee, pastries, and striking slogans create an unconventional morning ritual.
The invitation reads: “Let’s start the day from the end: coffee, smiles, mortal slogans, pastries, and farewells.” Now in its second edition, the event drew 150 attendees last year, with thousands more following online. Supported by Living Corriere della Sera and Museo del Novecento, the performance blends everyday life with artistic expression.
The concept stems from La mia casa è Milano (My Home is Milan), a feature that reimagined Cattelan’s “home” across different city locations. Piazza del Duomo, where he and Ballario frequently meet at dawn, represents the start of the day. Borrowing café chairs, they read the newspaper before Cattelan heads to Piscina Cozzi, Milan’s historic indoor pool.
Cattelan has staged similar breakfast events, including one at Artissima in Turin. With La Fine Allegra, he once again redefines artistic engagement, turning a simple morning routine into a thought-provoking public experience.
