Tomorrow is the last opening day for the “Gratia Plena” exhibition, by decision of the artist himself, Andrea Saltini. This is the statement from the Diocese on the matter:
“The Diocesan Museum takes note of the decision of the artist Andrea Saltini to interrupt the opening to the public of the “Gratia plena” exhibition set up with some of his works. In expressing full understanding and sharing of the reasons given, we thank Andrea Saltini for sharing a partly pioneering attempt to identify possible interactions between contemporary artistic experiences and religious paths and mystical research.
The gravity of the succession of hate attacks, of the violence against a work and even against the artist himself, of the systematic and aggressive demonstrations of hostility towards the Church of Carpi and, specifically, its Pastors, is not lost on us. He regrets that the repeated invitations to seek a peaceful, frank and correct dialogue were not accepted, lowering the noisy and coarse tones.
In the opening days over two thousand people visited the exhibition and civilly expressed their impressions. The comparison, regarding the relationship between artists and the Gospel so desired by the Church starting from the Vatican Ecumenical Council and in particular by Pope Paul VI, will continue in the specific synodal construction site. It will then continue with other initiatives in society and in the church on the possibility of using new languages to address spiritual and religious themes through different artistic expressions. Precisely the laboriously tumultuous debates of these days have shown us the need for more fraternal balances and deeper appropriate reflections to adequately relate to the complexity of an intercultural dialogue that is not trivially irenic or prejudicially conflictual”.
