23 October–29 November 2014
Press preview: Wednesday 22 October, 10am–6pm
Nocturnal performance: Thursday 13 November, midnight–7am
Marsèlleria
Via Paullo 12/A
Milan
Hours: Monday–Friday 10am–1pm & 2–6pm,
Saturday–Sunday by appointment
T + 39 02 76394920
info [at] marselleria.org
www.marselleria.org
Marsèlleria presents a solo show by the artistic duo Invernomuto, from Thursday 23 October to Saturday 29 November.
The exhibition is designed as an overview of the last three years of artistic research and production by the duo, comprising Simone Bertuzzi and Simone Trabucchi. It takes the form of a narrative and reflection on themes generating varied, multi-faceted content that is at the same time harmonious and coherent.
The exhibition illustrates all the characteristic features of Invernomuto’s work, which focuses on processes of cultural combination. The artists’ approach is based on the combination of popular rituals, symbols from folklore and urban culture, reinterpreted using different languages such as moving images, sound and installations. Invernomuto adopt a complex artistic format, and in this exhibition it takes over the three floors of the gallery, which form three separate areas that are nonetheless interconnected and in close relation in terms of thematic affinity and areas of investigation.
The exhibition is organized in the form of a non-chronological itinerary, comprising sculptures and video works, specially adapted and modified for the spaces of Marsèlleria, along with a series of new installations specially made for the show. The sequence of works begins from a point of access to the space designed for the project, which is a floor lower than normal (basement floor), in order to invite visitors to explore the exhibition vertically, from bottom to top. Each space has a title referring to a real location: evocative titles that introduce the theme and atmosphere found in the corresponding area.
The Negus cycle—an extensive documentary that traces an imaginary line linking Vernasca (near Piacenza, and the location of origin of Invernomuto), Ethiopia and Jamaica—is the work, or rather the cycle of works, with the greatest presence in the exhibition. Negus is based on a historical event dating back to the Italian occupation of Ethiopia. In 1936, a soldier who had been wounded returned to Vernasca. To celebrate his return, the local community organized a festive but at the same time sinister ritual, burning an effigy of Haile Selassie I in the town square. Haile Selassie I was the last Negus of Ethiopia, and a messianic figure for the Rastafarian cult that had developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. Invernomuto’s project follows an itinerary that is initially biographical, but that expands and develops, linking Vernasca, Ethiopia and Jamaica according to two points of view: certain critical moments in Italy’s colonial history are placed in relation to the symbolism of Rastafarian tradition.
Negus is a cycle in constant development, an ongoing work, an ever-present theme in an itinerary that at certain stages induces the regeneration of the theme itself. It began as a film project, but more recently it has taken a more sculptural form, closer to an installation concept. The works from the latest phase of Negus are presented at this show at Marsèlleria, and they have been compiled into the solo show I-Ration, curated by Emanuele Guidi, at ar/ge Kunst in Bolzano (2014) and as part of the group show Glitch. Interferences between art and cinema in Italy, curated by Davide Giannella, PAC Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea, Milan (2014).
Invernomuto
Invernomuto (Simone Bertuzzi, b. 1983; Simone Trabucchi, b. 1982) was founded in 2003. Invernomuto produces works without a set format such as ffwd_mag; their activities range from the production of single-channel videos and live-media performance design, right through to curating events and special projects. Solo shows include Simone (Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea, Ferrara, 2011), I-Ration (ar/ge kunst, Bozen, 2014) and ArtSpeak (Vancouver, 2015). Invernomuto has taken part in many group shows and international festivals, including Netmage 09 (Bologna, 2009); Terre Vulnerabili (Hangar Bicocca, Milan, 2010/2011); Milano Film Festival (2013); Così Accade (Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin, 2014); Black Star Film Festival (Philadelphia, 2014) and Glitch. Interferenze tra arte e cinema in Italia (PAC Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea, Milan, 2014). In 2013 Invernomuto was finalist in the 9th edition of the Furla Prize, and won the first edition of the MERU ART*SCIENCE AWARD. In 2014 Invernomuto was selected for Berlinale Talents 2014 and presented a site-specific project for Museion (Museion Media Façade, Bozen). Invernomuto is based and works in Vernasca (Piacenza) and Milan.
Press contacts
PCM STUDIO
Via Archimede 6, 20129
Milan
Paola C. Manfredi: paola.manfredi [at] paolamanfredi.com / M +39 335 54 55 53
Marsèlleria press office
Maddalena Bonicelli: maddalena.bonicelli [at] gmail.com / M +39 335 6857707