The Italian Institute of Culture (IIC) in Paris closes 2019 with a homage dedicated to “Sardinia: the Creativity of an Island”, that offered 12 events to enliven the cultural agenda of November and December. In addition to culinary workshops by Chef Nicola Pisu, the concerts by jazz musician Gavino Murgia with his “Mattanza trio”, the Tenores di Neoreli and pianist Roberto Piana were all a great hit and the same can be said for the film screenings, the chats with writers Milena Agus, Alessandro De Roma and Marcello Fois and the theatrical adaptation of the novel “Mal di pietre” by Milena Agus, which closed the playbill.
Special acclaim was received by two exhibitions, which are still running:
“Terra Incognita”: Sardinia through the look of Luca Spano, running until 3 January 2020. It is the photographic narration through 25 images produced by the artist between 2011 and 2018, that tell the story of the island from the coast to its hinterland. The photographs surround an installation at the centre of the gallery, composed of four traditional chairs (called “scannetti”), and by four fragments of different types of rock. An itinerary to discover the island’s cultural landscape through symbolisms, little-known places full of meaning.
“Maria Lai: Suivez le rytme” (“Follow the Rhythm”), running until 10 January 2020. First solo exhibition in Paris dedicated to the famous artist, organised in association with the Museo Fondazione Stazione dell’arte di Ulassai and the contribution of the Fondazione di Sardegna, was also an opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Maria Lai. Her spiritual testament was celebrated with a large installation “L’arte ci prende per mano” (“Art Takes us by the Hand”), placed on the façade of the Institute, followed by the display of the famous hand-stitched books (4 original and 4 anastatic copies for the public to see); together with a composition of works such as historical looms, the exhibition also displays “La fuga della capretta”; “Geografie”, “Pietre quotidiane”: a documentation of environmental projects and especially the famous video “Legarsi alla montagna” (“Bounding with the Mountain”), which is her masterpiece.
