The exhibition opens in Modica on April 21st SICILY BLUE. The sea in island art from the twentieth century to the contemporary, with the aim of telling, through a selection of works by important artists not only from Sicily, the island’s sea and the interweaving of themes that involve it.
«The SEA – states the president of the Sicilian cultural association Sikarte, Graziana Papale – is one of the most important distinctive features of Sicily: the sea as the identity of those born on the island, but also as an engaging presence of those who experience Sicily for long or short periods.
Sikarte produced this exhibition with the intention of telling, through a thematic and scientific journey of works by 53 artists, not only Sicilian, how the Sicilian sea may have inspired artistic research since the first decades of the twentieth century and continues to do so throughout ‘Today. Blue Sicily reconfirms the presence of Sikarte in Modica, this year in the spaces of the Società Operaia di Mutuo Soccorso. The search for unique places and the need to make them accessible to the public is therefore renewed. The synergy created with the Municipality of Modica and the Mutual Aid Workers’ Society is making possible the cultural accessibility of architecturally distinctive historical spaces, testimony to a city of art like Modica, a UNESCO heritage site.»
The project is divided into two scientific and thematic sections: the first edited by Giuliana Fiori covers the time span up to the first half of the twentieth century; the second edited by Chiara Canali focuses on the second half of the twentieth century up to the present day.
«The exhibition aims – he declares Giuliana Fiori – as a complete documentation of how often the island’s sea has been the protagonist of great works of art, focusing attention on the centuries. XX and XXI. Painting, sculpture, photography and installations by well-known artists, some historicized such as Fausto Pirandello, Renato Guttuso, Bruno Caruso, Piero Guccione, will in fact contribute to making people more closely aware of the emotions that the Sicilian sea can offer and to revealing how it can fill your memory with indelible memories.»
An exhibition itinerary therefore capable of offering a broad panorama on the theme of the Sicilian sea, in its various cultural and social facets. There are many themes that intertwine in the exhibition itinerary, because there are different aspects that the chosen artists have interpreted and denounced in their artistic investigations: the beauty and poetry of the places, the history and the myth, the light and the colours, the tradition, the fishermen and sailors, the social and environmental problems.
«The sea– remember Chiara Canali – often returns in legends, cults and myths, especially those linked to the irrepressible Mediterranean nature of Sicily. The sea also returns in the most recent stories, those of the writers, directors and artists who have described this land with numerous faces and plurality of landscapes. The artists on display have chosen Blue as the emblem of Sicily, its sea and its traditions and memories.»
A selection of paintings, sculptures, photographs and installationswill show how the sea of Sicily, universally recognized as an element of the island’s identifying beauty, may have inspired many artists, since the first decades of the twentieth century, and continues to do so today, also touching on issues of strong social and environmental impact.
«The Sea – he declares Maria Monisteri, Mayor of the Municipality of Modica – the infinite blue expanse that merges on the horizon with the blue of the sky, is a distinctive moment in everyone’s life and in ours. Traits of us people of the South, who live on this and in this corner of the world and who breathe from its sea. Characteristic figure of our daily essence and which this exhibition tells through works that enhance its beauty with the color that distinguishes it. The sea and its People; the sea and its blue. In welcoming the exhibition and welcoming back to Sikarte I am happy to be able to fill my eyes and those of the many who will visit this exhibition, immersing sensations in the beauty of our sea, heart and symbol of our Earth” .
The exhibition is hosted at the headquarters of the Mutual Aid Workers’ Society which is located in the basement of the Palazzo della Cultura of Modica, a seventeenth-century building and monastery of the Benedictine nuns until 1860. In its interior, beyond a part of the Benedictine cloister, the stone confessionals found during the restoration work are visible.
«Welcome you as President of the Mutual Aid Workers’ Society of Modica since 1881 – declares Giorgio Solarino – it’s really exciting. Host Blue Sicily. THEThe sea in island art from the twentieth century to the contemporary it will be a fascinating experience. The exhibition that celebrates the important connection of art with the majestic sea that surrounds our beloved island.
The presence of very important authors gives this exhibition an aura of prestige and promises to significantly enrich the cultural offering of our city. With pride, we open our rooms to Sikarte cultural association, which will take care of the event with scrupulous care and passionate commitment. We are certain that it will be an unforgettable experience that will highlight the cultural centrality of our historic reality.»
The project enjoys the patronage of the Municipality of Modica, of theARS (Sicilian Regional Assembly), of Mutual Aid Workers’ Society and of MUSEUM Observatory of contemporary art in Sicily. We also thank the sponsors who made the project possible: Coop – Gruppo Radenza, Sotto San Pietro, Lo Magno Arte Contemporanea, Salomone Assicurazioni, Cappero Bistrot, SikaniaWood.
Tags: Blu Sicilia opens Modica
