Legato at Cassino from Nicola Blackmore on Vimeo.
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Legato at Cassino
"It's the paintbrush versus the gun as the biggest ever collection of New Zealand art in Italy prompts the question: Can art change the world?"
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Photos from Legato
Thanks to photographer Derek Bunn for these images.
Avv. Beniamino Papa (Assessore alla cultura Comune di Cassino), Kay de Lautour (organiser and curator of Legato), and Margherita Giampietri (exhibitor and translator).
Sophia Elise (exhibitor and New Zealand liaison) at the exhibition with Kay de Lautour, organiser and curator of Legato.
A glimpse into a corner of the exhibition.
The end of a very long day!
Avv. Beniamino Papa (Assessore alla cultura Comune di Cassino), Kay de Lautour (organiser and curator of Legato), and Margherita Giampietri (exhibitor and translator).
Sophia Elise (exhibitor and New Zealand liaison) at the exhibition with Kay de Lautour, organiser and curator of Legato.
A glimpse into a corner of the exhibition.
The end of a very long day!
Sunday, 23 May 2010
A Different Approach to Colour
The moment you step into the room you register, either consciously or unconsciously, that this in an unusual exhibition in this part of Italy. The works are modern, colourful and diverse, despite being linked by a common theme. Although sombre and serious in message, they somehow combine to form a colourful and deceptively light-hearted show that has a distinctly New Zealand flavour.
Sculpture (below) "Siamo morti, per cosa?" by Dave Fowell.
The exhibition is up to version three, with fairly major changes in placement as new works arrive. All works get their day under the spotlight, but some of the earlier arrivals are now on display in the entrance foyer to make room for new arrivals under the lights. (The choice of being under the chandelier or under the exhibition lights is not a bad one, really!) These photographs are not in any particular order, nor do they show all the works on display.
Sculpture (below) "Siamo morti, per cosa?" by Dave Fowell.
The exhibition is up to version three, with fairly major changes in placement as new works arrive. All works get their day under the spotlight, but some of the earlier arrivals are now on display in the entrance foyer to make room for new arrivals under the lights. (The choice of being under the chandelier or under the exhibition lights is not a bad one, really!) These photographs are not in any particular order, nor do they show all the works on display.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Splinters in Fingers.
The final "official" part of the proceedings is over. Gifts have been presented to dignitaries. Long speeches have been delivered, translated and applauded. Official delegations from various countries involved in this week's Cassino commemorations have been lead through Legato. It's been a long week, and it's still only Wednesday here.
The New Zealand Embassy put on a nibbles-and-drinks reception on Monday night, at which most of the artists said their goodbyes and travelled on to sightseeing further south.
The exhibition, however, is still a work in progress. Paintings are still arriving, hanging issues are being tweaked, and updated price lists and artist details have been delivered to the venue. Everyone left here is quietly exhausted.
I have many more films to make, but this post will have to serve while the web-watchers are waiting for video. I'm the odd observer here; the one that makes the coffee, cleans the towels, buys toilet paper for the venue. I'm also a video journalist rather than an artist, and as I've talked to the participants I've gained an overall view of what's been happening.
Opinions, predictably for a large group, are divided. Some love where they've been placed, others are not as happy. Some are motivated solely by the promotion of peace, others are understandably desperate to sell to cover the costs of the trip. Some are glad and grateful to be here, others are home-sick, travel-sick or simply sick of Italian food.
There's a lot of culture shock, in both directions. It's not just the language, it's the way things happen here. We're in Southern Italy, where people don't drink without food, where tradesmen don't always turn up when they say they will. Some cultural mores are easy to adapt to: Italians flirt constantly and everyone enjoys the game of making each other feel wanted and happy. Artists have been adopted by various local families and over-fed with attention and regional food. But local political ructions impacted on the opening night, with the Italian invitations going out late and with the wrong time on them.
The good news is that the exhibition is busy despite this. The works are hung in the Italian way, with names and prices in a folder on the desk rather than by the art. People frequenting the cafe next door are spreading the word, and regular fixtures within the exhibition room and adjacent library means the eyeball count for the days so far is pretty good. It doesn't really matter if artists are focussed on profit or peace, both aims are served well by a busy exhibition with an impressive visual impact.
As for those still spending hours on the phone to customs or manning the exhibition, the view with the most impact is the inside of their eyelids...
The New Zealand Embassy put on a nibbles-and-drinks reception on Monday night, at which most of the artists said their goodbyes and travelled on to sightseeing further south.
The exhibition, however, is still a work in progress. Paintings are still arriving, hanging issues are being tweaked, and updated price lists and artist details have been delivered to the venue. Everyone left here is quietly exhausted.
I have many more films to make, but this post will have to serve while the web-watchers are waiting for video. I'm the odd observer here; the one that makes the coffee, cleans the towels, buys toilet paper for the venue. I'm also a video journalist rather than an artist, and as I've talked to the participants I've gained an overall view of what's been happening.
Opinions, predictably for a large group, are divided. Some love where they've been placed, others are not as happy. Some are motivated solely by the promotion of peace, others are understandably desperate to sell to cover the costs of the trip. Some are glad and grateful to be here, others are home-sick, travel-sick or simply sick of Italian food.
There's a lot of culture shock, in both directions. It's not just the language, it's the way things happen here. We're in Southern Italy, where people don't drink without food, where tradesmen don't always turn up when they say they will. Some cultural mores are easy to adapt to: Italians flirt constantly and everyone enjoys the game of making each other feel wanted and happy. Artists have been adopted by various local families and over-fed with attention and regional food. But local political ructions impacted on the opening night, with the Italian invitations going out late and with the wrong time on them.
The good news is that the exhibition is busy despite this. The works are hung in the Italian way, with names and prices in a folder on the desk rather than by the art. People frequenting the cafe next door are spreading the word, and regular fixtures within the exhibition room and adjacent library means the eyeball count for the days so far is pretty good. It doesn't really matter if artists are focussed on profit or peace, both aims are served well by a busy exhibition with an impressive visual impact.
As for those still spending hours on the phone to customs or manning the exhibition, the view with the most impact is the inside of their eyelids...
Monday, 17 May 2010
Under way...
Cassino is now host to not just 30 or so tired New Zealanders but the Legato exhibition, open and in full swing. Many of the artworks are strongly New Zealand, and it sometimes seems wierd to see them hung in an Italian way, with no names and a discreet book of information at the desk. It's also very Italian to wander through after a coffee in the bar beside us, inspecting every work carefully before coming back with friends. Legato is establishing itself as an event to pay attention to.
In a few hours there will be the promised video report on the opening day. We will also be posting photos of the exhibition as and when they come in. For now, it's off to the ceremony at the Commonwealth war graves in Cassino, followed by a visit to the exhibition by the NZ Ambassador to Rome. The day concludes with a reception hosted by the New Zealand Embassy.
In a few hours there will be the promised video report on the opening day. We will also be posting photos of the exhibition as and when they come in. For now, it's off to the ceremony at the Commonwealth war graves in Cassino, followed by a visit to the exhibition by the NZ Ambassador to Rome. The day concludes with a reception hosted by the New Zealand Embassy.
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