Merano, with its crystalline air and its views that seem painted by ancient hands, is a town in the province of Bolzano. Anyone who has been to Merano knows that here every breath is an invitation to contemplation, every corner a discovery. And among the places that are worth a visit, there is certainly the Kunst Meran Merano Arte
On June 2, this cultural space opened its doors to an exhibition that presents itself with all the conditions to amaze us with its wide-ranging theme, the title? “The Insubric Line”. This name, almost an enigma, suggests a depth that goes beyond simple vision. It is a collective exhibition that stages an intense and, at times, idyllic dialogue between eleven contemporary artists from various parts of the world: Liliana Angulo Cortés, Sammy Baloji, Binta Diaw, Abdessamad El Montassir and many others. Curated with care and wisdom by Lucrezia Cippitelli and Simone Frangi, the exhibition is the first step of a three-year project entitled “The Invention of Europe: a tricontinental narrative (2024-2027)”.
This ambitious project aims to explore, over the next three years, the monolithic idea of Europe and its narrative construction through a series of collective and monographic exhibitions. The first phase, “La Linea Insubrica”, represents a critical reflection on the relations between Europe and Africa. The very name of the exhibition comes from a geological line that runs through Merano, a visible scar from the collision between the European and African tectonic plates. This fault, like a mark on the skin of the earth, is a powerful symbol of the meeting and clash between these two continents.
The artists involved, with their different sensibilities and languages, use a variety of media – from video installations to sound performances – to explore crucial themes such as colonialism, extractivism and migration. The exhibition is enriched by a multidisciplinary public program that includes guided tours, performance events, sound interventions and screenings of artists’ films. The June 1 opening will feature Vashish Soobah with a DJ set exploring themes of memory and migration. Screenings of films such as *Aequare: the Future that Never Was* by Sammy Baloji e *Is My Living in Vain* Of Ufuoma Essi they will add further layers of meaning to the exhibition.
“La Linea Insubrica” is not just an exhibition, but a complex and total experience that invites visitors to rethink the historical and cultural narratives between Europe and Africa. It is a clear invitation to reflect on how stories intertwine and how we can build a more conscious and inclusive future. With the support of a rich program of events and activations, this exhibition promises to be a point of reference in the contemporary art scene.
You have until October 13th to meet the art and criticism that find themselves in a dialogue that crosses continents and generations, offering new perspectives and food for thought. And in this meeting, perhaps, we will also find a piece of who we are, hidden between the folds of history and art.
