ReSignifications and Black Portraiture{s} II at New York University Florence
The ReSignifications exhibition, opened on May 29 at the Stefano Bardini Museum and will run until August 29, 2015, curated by the Nigerian Awam Amkpa, playwright, director, film producer, scholar and Professor of Dramatic Arts and African Studies at New York University,an exhibit inspired by the sculptures of “Africans” - Blackamoors - from the Villa La Pietra collection, who were represented in postures of servitude for ornamental purposes.Since 2012 artists from the United States, Africa and Europe were invited to “experience” the collection of Villa La Pietra and were asked to respond to the artistic representations of the Blackamoors, by contrasting them with a selection of three-dimensional objects, models and sculptures according to the reinterpretations and counter-narratives arose from the most diverse contemporary perspectives.
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“The NYU Campus at Villa La Pietra is the ideal setting for an international debate about the figurative symbolism of the “black body”, in part because of the “Mori”, but also because the African diaspora is certainly a crucial topic in Italy and throughout Europe” says Ellyn Toscano, executive director of New York University in Florence, co-organizer of Black Portraiture {s} II, and executive producer of ReSignifications. The pieces presented in the exhibit include works of 47 artists such as Carrie Mae Weems, Fred Wilson, Mickalene Thomas, Zanele Muholi, Omar Victor Diop, Peju Alatise, Mary Sibande, Daniele Tamagni, Patrizia Maimouna Guerresi, Hassan Hajjaj who have further created, thanks to the presence of Vasco Araujo, Kiluanji Kia Henda, Mario Macilau e Flávio Cerqueira an ideal connection with the Venetian Biennale.
Grazie al supporto di Robert Holmes, membro del consiglio della NYU Faculty of Arts and Sciences, gli artisti hanno avuto la possibilità di eleggere come loro residenza Villa La Pietra ed esplorare interpretazioni contemporanee delle collezioni permanenti che gli ex proprietari della Villa, la famiglia Acton, hanno lasciato a NYU nel 1994. Oltre alla sua destinazione di centro di formazione e di ricerca accademica, il campus ospita regolarmente forum accademici e politici di alto livello e conferenze internazionali. “Il Campus della NYU a Villa La Pietra è lo scenario ideale per una discussione internazionale sul simbolismo figurativo del “black body”, in parte a causa dei “Mori”, ma anche perché la diaspora africana è sicuramente un argomento al centro del dibattito in Italia e in tutta Europa”, afferma Ellyn Toscano, direttore esecutivo di New York University Florence, co-organizzatore di Black Portraiture{s} II, e produttore esecutivo di ReSignifications. Le opere presentate in mostra includono i lavori di 47 artisti fra i quali Carrie Mae Weems, Fred Wilson, Mickalene Thomas, Zanele Muholi, Omar Victor Diop, Peju Alatise, Mary Sibande, Daniele Tamagni, Patrizia Maimouna Guerresi, Hassan Hajjaj creando inoltre, grazie alle presenze di Vasco Araujo, Kiluanji Kia Henda, Mario Macilau e Flávio Cerqueira, un ponte ideale con la Biennale di Venezia.
