The Italian Cultural Institute of Lisbon, in collaboration with Cultural Associations Mantellate – Studio Stefania Miscetti and the Carpintarias de São Lázaro, welcomes on 16th May the artist Bruna Esposito for the presentation of the project ‘Altri Venti – Ostro’, that has been selected among the winners of the 9th edition of Italian Council 2020 – a program to promote Italian contemporary art in the world by the Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture.
The artist, in dialogue with Giulia Lamoni, researcher and independent curator at the Institute of Art History of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa and with Giovanbattista Tusa, philosopher and researcher in Contemporary Ecologies at the Institute of Philosophy of the same University, presents the installation “Altri Venti – Ostro”, consisting of a gazebo made of natural materials such as bamboo canes and rope: the welcoming space is warmed by the breeze created by a solar-powered ceiling fan, and also features several ship propellers (a recurring motif in Esposito’s work).
The work is borne out of a synergy of various areas of research, bringing to life the artist’s vision – and increasingly explicit conviction – that only to eliminate the distances between people and the tools used to improve the standard of living, we can image a radical change of direction in favor of a more ecological approach. In this way, we will stop the excessive use of consumer goods, as for example the condition air.
The work is presented as a device aiming to reinvigorate the space, imbuing it with new, possible relationships, reflections, and meanings. At a time when the subject of “meeting” is as topical as ever, the artist offers us a space to rest, a break that becomes an encounter. Ostro is a political and poetic exhortation: an invitation to take stock of the impact of our actions and consider the inevitability of other choices, as well as the power of simplicity; it is an ode to ancient, frugal alternatives.
Bruna Esposito was born in Rome in 1960, where she lives and works. In 1979 she graduated from the IV Liceo Artistico in Rome and in 1980 she attended the Faculty of Architecture at La Sapienza University, Rome. Later studied aerial dance in New York with Batya Zamir and she was selected to take part in the Whitney Museum of American Art’s Independent Studio Program. In the late 1980s she moved to West Berlin where she was awarded two scholarships by IBA Berlin for the project and feasibility study for Two public biotoilets.
He currently teaches sculpture techniques at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, previously at L’Aquila, Brera, Temple and Cabot University, Rhode Island School of Design in Rome.
National and international selected exhibitions: Rome Quadriennale (1996 – 2008 – 2021); Documenta X Kassel, Germany (1997); Venice Biennale (1999 – 2005); Sonsbeek 9, Arhnem, Netherlands (2001); Istanbul Biennial, Turkey (2003); Gwanjiu Biennial, South Korea (2004); New Orleans Biennial, Usa (2008); Cuenca Biennial, Ecuador (2016); Havana Biennial, Cuba (2019).
Awards: 9th Edition Italian Council, MIC, Rome (2021); 62nd Edition Termoli Prize, MACTE, Termoli (2021); Shortlisted for the Italian Chamber of Deputies Award for the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy, Palazzo Montecitorio, Rome (2011); The Young Italian Artist Prize, MAXXI, Rome / Castel Sant’Elmo, Naples (2001); P.S.1 Italian Program, New York, U.S.A. (1999); Golden Lion at 48th Venice Biennale, pavilion Dapertutto, Venice (1999).
The project ‘Altri Venti – Ostro’ is realized in collaboration with several partners, as: Magazzino Italian Art, New York (USA), UNTREF, Buenos Aires (Argentina), Italian Institute of Culture of Lisbon (Portugal), Center for Contemporary Art Luigi Pecci, Prato (Italy); and with the support of Tools for Culture.
Look for more information on: iiclisbona.esteri.it.
Project realized thanks to the support of the Italian Council (IX edition, 2020), program to promote Italian contemporary art in the world by the Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture.
