LA MENDICANTE (The Beggar)
At the very historic centre of the city of Venice, leaning against the walls of the Academy of Fine Arts, a woman is laying down on the ground with her face covered holding a sign that says: "Ho fame, aiutatemi" (I'm hungry, please help me). She is reaching out to ask for money, but at the same time it's impossible to not notice the designer bag that she has under her arm and the lottery tickets on the ground close to her.
Is it either a forged poor woman that, with no dignity, tries to gain the compassion of the passer-by people or perhaps a former rich individual, now poor, symbolising the new critical social situation of today's reality?
This is the social theme addressed by Venetian artist Michele Tombolini with his new installation "La Mendicante" (The Beggar), which was created for the occasion of the Opening of the Venice Biennale 2019 with the aim of raise awareness on the sensitive theme of the New Poverty.
The project is realized in a preliminary interactive phase with "The Beggar" an installation in which Michele Tombolini places a mannequin, that impersonates the Beggar, in different locations around the centre of the City of Venice, and a second phase that will take place in Ca' Zanardi Palace with an exhibition and a video projection that will showcase the reactions of the passer-by people in relation to the installation "The Beggar" which focus on raising awareness on the theme of the New Poverty; the exhibition is curated in collaboration with Cris Contini Contemporary Gallery London.
Born in Venice in 1963, Michele Tombolini defines his artistic research within the Social Pop movement. The artist aesthetics approach is characterized by bright colours and contemporary images, always keeping a deep interest toward the social dynamics and problems. This more conceptual approach started from the participation to a collateral exhibition of the Venice Biennale of Art in 2013.
Exhibition:
Title La Mendicante (The Beggar)
Artist Michele Tombolini
Organized by ITSLIQUID GROUP
Curators Luca Curci and Cris Contini Contemporary London
Where ANIMA MUNDI FESTIVAL, Palazzo Ca' Zanardi, Cannaregio 4132 - 30121 Venice, Italy
Date 12th May- 5th July 2019
Private Opening Saturday 11th May 2019, h. 18:00
Opening Hours Monday - Friday, h. 10:00 -18:00
Free Entry
