The presence of Catalonia at the Venice International Art Exhibition examines the symbolic power of statues. The focus of the analysis is on the naturalistic and figurative Catalan statues located in public space.
The multi-authored pavilion has been curated by Pedro Azara, who also acted as a guide in the performance by Marcel Borrás, a Catalan actor and director, featuring the actress Marta Aguilar, during the vernissage. The performance took place in the streets of the Castello sestriere, those that are rarely explored by tourists.
The performance She appropriates in present stages rapports with a number of statues, with the audience being asked to interact with the actress with acts of devotion, such as those actually bestowed on the statue of a famous footballer, or of protest – throwing coloured paint – as has been the fate of statues of politicians or famous figures fallen from grace. The exhibition also includes a machine, E.Y.M: (a f*** vending machine), an interactive sculpture containing the objects that the visitors have used to interact with the performer, such as fake flowers, lollipops, spray cans, etc.
The pavilion is made up of other materials, such as videos, photographs and newspaper articles, which serve as the archive on which the curator has based his research. Lastly, an artist’s book has been published in which six Catalan artists reflect on the power of the image through drawings, illustrations, essays and poetry.
- Pavilion:
- Catalonia
- Title:
- To Lose Your Head (Idols)
- Curator:
- Pedro Azara
- Where:
- Calle Quintavalle, Castello 40 – Venezia
- When:
- 11 may - 24 november 2019