This volume documents the exhibition dedicated to Alan Bee, held at the Abbey of Montecassino from September 16 to October 29, 2023.
The exhibition, integrated into the Abbey’s museum path, is part of a series of events leading up to 2029, the year in which the Abbey will celebrate the 1500th anniversary of its founding.
As we know, Alan Bee is a pseudonym, not chosen at random but with strong evocative power: in English, "Bee" means "ape," and it is precisely the world of bees—their hives, their perfect organization, and their fruitful work—that inspires the creativity of this artist. Those who have known him and written about his art, such as Flaminio Gualdoni, have stated that "Alan Bee started from a direct observation: the community in which art is generated must be united, industrious, and supportive like that of bees. Therefore, the artist must identify with the bee itself, creating work that, while singular, draws nourishment from a common source, intended for all, embodying the essence of a sociality in harmony with the times and rhythms of nature."
This theme resonates deeply with monastic and Benedictine tradition: just as prayer is shared, so too does labor express the necessity and fruitfulness of shared collaboration.
