LAMEZIA TERME – Il June 18th the exhibition opens in Lamezia Terme Civic Visions – Art returned: From the works confiscated from the mafias to the common good, by the professor Lorenzo Canovaset up at Monumental Complex of San Domenico, home of the Lamezzo Archaeological Museum.
Promoted by Trame Foundation and fromMetaMorfosi Associationwith the Sponsored by the Ministry of the Interior and the support of CDP Foundationthe unprecedented exhibition was inaugurated on the occasion of thirteenth edition of the Festival of books on mafias, Plots. This event, with a strong cultural appeal, has been hosted every year since 2011 10 thousand visitors representing an important moment of reflection and discussion on the topic of the fight against mafias.
The works on display
As he explains Lorenzo Canova “the project was not born as a traditional exhibition, but as a sign based on the symbolic strength of the visual arts, a space of legality and civic sharing born from two nuclei of works of art confiscated from the mafias“: that of Gioacchino Campoloknown “king of video poker”, and that of Gennaro Mokbelfinancier linked to the Banda della Magliana.
Among the artists exhibited there are important names: Giorgio De Chirico, Antonio Ligabue, Paul Kostabi, Michele Cascella, Michele Cassinari, Cesare Berlingeri, Massimo Catalani, Luca Dall’Olio, Marco Lodola, Max Marra, Paolo Porelli, Pietro Annigoni, Franz Borghese and Bruno Caruso.
On display is a nucleus of 44 works which reveals the personal taste of mafiosi-collectors, often with a weakness for art and which “they were rarely able to resist the temptation to add a prized piece to private collections“.
However, in addition to authentic works, the exhibition also includes fake paintings, such as the one “who wants to counterfeit a painting by Giorgio Morandi. A paradoxical document that makes us understand how even criminals can, in all likelihood, be victims of a scam” – specific Canova.
A project of high civil value
Nuccio Iovenepresident of Trame ETS Foundation, highlights the objective of the exhibition, namely to maintain high attention on the activities of the mafias and their ability to infiltrate even seemingly distant sectors such as the art market. Thanking the Director of Lamezzo Archaeological Museum, Simona Bruniand the doctor Daniela Vinci from the Superintendency of Reggio Calabria, Iovene underlines that the exhibition “it would not have been possible without the support of the Hon. Wanda Ferroundersecretary to Ministry of the Interior with responsibility for Confiscated Assetsof the director ofNational Agency for the administration and destination of assets seized and confiscated from organized crimethe Prefect Bruno Cordaand the Mayor of Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, Giuseppe Falcomatàwhich made half of the works on display available“.
A commitment to legality and culture
Pietro Folenapresident of MetaMorfosi, explains that with this exhibition the association’s objective of combining the production of exhibitions with civic vocation, using art and culture as tools against illegality. “After having just produced, for the first edition of the Social Anti-Mafia Festival at the Federico II University of Naples, the video and the exhibition Poverty, old and new slavery in art, we are now participating with great pride in Lamezia Terme in a project that has the aim of returning to the community works acquired through malfeasance, hoping to open a new season that puts art and culture at the center to combat crime and illegality” – concludes Folena.
The exhibition Civic Visions – Art returned it therefore represents an important and unmissable cultural and civil event that combines art, legality and social commitment. It is an opportunity to admire extraordinary works of art, but to reflect on the role of art in contemporary society as a tool of resistance and rebirth.
Vademecum
Civic Visions – Art returned. From the works confiscated from the mafias to the common good
Lamezzo Archaeological Museum – Monumental Complex of San Domenico
At your place: 18 June – 28 July 2024
Curator: Lorenzo Canova
Organization: Trame ETS Foundation, MetaMorfosi Association
Patronage: Ministry of Interior
Support: CDP Foundation
