Francesca Grossi and Vera Maglioni are an Italian artists duo. Their residence took place in Novo Naselje, in Serbia with a population of around 40,000 inhabitants. The ongoing project investigates how the intention of occupying and the act of occupying spaces generates new kinds of space and how this tells the story of what it means to inhabit a space. Occupazioni revolves around an installation made of ropes and tents, and a developing story on the solitary journey of a child until he/she reaches adulthood, and he/she meets others.
ARTWORK
OCCUPAZIONI: THE PERPETUAL DIALOGUE
Grossi Maglioni
Vera Maglioni (Italy, 1982) and Francesca Grossi (Italy, 1982)
Occupazioni: The Perpetual Dialogue, 2018
Interactive installation with cushions, sound, book
Grossi Maglioni is an artistic duo collaborating since 2006. Their research develops primarily through performance, installation and workshops. During their residency, with the partner Novo Kulturno Naselje, in the Novo Naselje district they deepened a project, started in 2014 which investigates how the intention of occupying and the act of occupying spaces generates new kinds of space and how this tells the story of what it means to inhabit a space. On the occasion of the exhibition visitors can experience the artwork which plays with the imagination of the viewer, maintaining the suspension between what is revealed – even through the paradox of disguise – and what is metaphorically removed from view. A carpet made of twelve cushions, where visitors can arrange themselves in a circle, acts as a corolla for the centre, where the story is revealed. Nearby, there are twelve coloured sheets, sewn like ghost costumes, inviting visitors to take part in and complete the story.
*You can sit and experience the artwork with the help of the Museum Staff. Please avoid to lean on the cushions with the shoes. The artist book can be read using the disposable gloves
** During the exhibition on November 27 Grossi Maglioni will lead a workshop for children. The workshop will take place in the Kaunas Picture Gallery from 11 am to 1:30 pm
This workshop that the artists will carry out with the local community is part of their research project entitled Beast Mother and is supported by the Italian Council (2021), Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity, Ministry of Culture.
