Rediscovering Kindness and Simplicity: The Alda Fendi Foundation’s Christmas Wish
The Alda Fendi Foundation – Experiments has unveiled its Christmas wish, “Prayer to go to Heaven with donkeys” – Homage to Francis Jammes, an action set by Raffaele Curi at Palazzo Rhinoceros. The project, conceived in three distinct artistic events, rediscovers the donkey as a symbol of values often underestimated today, such as humility, resistance, and silent strength. Through the delicate words of French poet Francis Jammes, the donkey is elevated to an emblem of kindness and simplicity.
The Artistic Project
The exhibition, which took place on December 19, 2025, at Palazzo Rhinoceros, featured a setup with biscuit donkeys scattered along the entire exhibition itinerary. The donkey, a central figure in the nativity scene, is also the protagonist of an installation depicting the Nativity by Beato Angelico, surrounded by an expanse of straw. This setup allowed visitors to feel the wonder of Christmas in a more intimate way, returning to the purity of childhood. Raffaele Curi, artistic director of the Foundation, and Alda Fendi welcomed visitors to the special atmosphere, toasting the magic of the holidays.
The Inspiration Behind the Project
The project was inspired by Francis Jammes’ composition “Prayer to go to Heaven with donkeys,” in which he turns to God to implore him to lead him into the kingdom of eternal peace. Curi transports the public into a dimension that uses the strength of transcendence as a vehicle to recover humanity and a sense of community. “Every word of this poem takes the heart,” says Alda Fendi, “this composition makes us understand that meekness and simplicity are things that matter a lot in life.” The passion for this poem by Jammes is also the passion for the donkey, an animal that is perhaps more fascinating than dogs because it has an extra sweetness, underlines Curi.
The Exhibition
The exhibition route opens on the ground floor with a crowd of donkeys suspended in the air in a sea of white three-dimensional clouds, fascinating figures made of various materials with excerpts from Jammes’ poetry. While Curi’s voice echoes as he interprets the composition, the exhibition continues on the first floor, where the visitor is hit by an enveloping and symbolic beam of light, a sort of “paradise” that recalls the glory of God. The installation is completed by two wooden telegraph poles approximately two meters high, equipped with vintage ceramic insulators, joined by telegraph wires along which a small crowd of donkeys floats in the air.
A Tribute to Francis Jammes
The project is a tribute to the figure of Francis Jammes (1868-1938), a leading exponent of minor symbolism, a master in describing the beauty of small things in poetry. The trilogy of this artistic project will continue next April on the trail of Apuleius’ Golden Ass, to end in October 2026, with a tribute to the unforgettable performance of a great artist, Marina Abramović. The event, with free entry, is a widespread route full of attractions, conceived perfectly for Palazzo Rhinoceros, a six-storey building designed on the model of Walter Benjamin’s Passages in Paris.
Conclusion
The Alda Fendi Foundation – Experiments’ Christmas wish is a call to rediscover kindness and simplicity, values that are often underestimated in today’s world. Through the artistic project “Prayer to go to Heaven with donkeys,” the Foundation invites visitors to reflect on the importance of meekness, resistance, and silent strength. For more information, visit Here