L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015 www.italoamericano.com 6 From theatre to art: Max Papeschi and his solo exhibition "Fifty Shades of Gold" in San Francisco From theatre and cinema to figurative arts: at this point of his career, Max Papeschi, the Italian artist with the first insti- tutional solo exhibition in the U n i t e d S t a t e s , a c h i e v e d a n immediate success among both the critics and the public thanks to his eclectic knowledge of all these worlds. Indeed, born as theatre and cinema author and director, he became an artist with exhibitions in Berlin, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Kyoto, Izmir and Mexico City. Nevertheless, considered one of the main pro- tagonists of contemporary art, he chose San Francisco for his e x h i b i t i o n F i f t y S h a d e s o f Gold. The opening was also an opportunity to present his auto- biography and the fascinating story of how he transitioned from theatre and cinema to the art world. L o o k i n g a t h i s a r t w o r k s , Max's style surprises for lacking o f o b v i o u s m e a n i n g s a n d a n o r d i n a r y a p p r o a c h . M o v i n g between the idea of "politically incorrect" and some futurism, his vision takes some elements from the past and turns them into something totally new in order to achieve future or alter- n a t i v e i d e o l o g i e s . T h e f e a r behind this art hides an inner hope, which will become - soon- er or later - freedom. C h a r a c t e r s a n d e v e n t s o f every kind and from any era c o m e t o l i f e t h r o u g h a m a s s media representation, whose complexity brings sometimes to either a misinterpretation or opposite understandings. For instance, this is what happened w i t h s o m e a r t w o r k s w h o s e analysis changed according to the geographical areas of origin: while in Europe, Max Papeschi has been sometimes accused for being pro-Nazi or similar, in the United States he has been con- sidered as supportive of commu- nist and anarchist ideologies. However, with a little effort which helps go beyond the first impression, the main goal of the Italian artist is to remind every- one how, looking back at a few years ago, some concepts as freedom of expression, tolerance for those who are different, soli- darity for minorities, and peace among European countries were not as certain as they are today. Although it took a long time for our society to achieve them, there would take very little to destroy what has been built over years. You used to be an author and a director. When did you realize that figurative art is as effective as theatre and cine- ma? SERENA PERFETTO The spirit of my work has been always the same, the only thing which changed is the way I express it. In all these years, u n l i k e M c L u h a n ' s t h e o r y , I b e l i e v e I h a v e c h a n g e d t h e medium to communicate but not t h e m e s s a g e i t s e l f . O n l y i n recent times, I got close to figu- rative arts and it happened only by chance: at the end of 2008, I created a Myspace page which wanted to promote a theatre show for which I was writing the screenplay. To help the pro- m o t i o n , I d e c i d e d t o u s e Photoshop and to edit pictures in order to help everyone under- stand the real meaning of my work. Then, an expert from a gallery in Milan called me and asked to exhibit those photos for them. That's how this amaz- ing adventure started. W h i c h a r t i s t o r a r t i s t i c trend most influenced you? I grew up in theaters and my background comes from there. I think I have been influenced from movies and the advertise- ment world more than from art itself. I believe, there are lot of people who work in advertise- ment who are as great as con- temporary artists and eventually inspired me. You call yourself a new pop artist. What does that mean? I have never considered my work "pop art" in the way we all know. I use icons coming from the mass culture for a spe- cific purpose and only if they are useful to fulfil the message. Most times, instead, new pop art uses icons coming from the popular cultural just to match the market's interests. And this is not what I am looking for. Your art is controversial and provocative. Is this the right way to define it? I don't think being provoca- tive is meaningful anymore. We s a w , i n s o m e e x h i b i t i o n s i n 1917, a lavatory in a gallery, as well as some shit in a jar. There have been performances just b a s e d o n n u d i t y , b l o o d , a n d self-destruction. They tortured and killed animals just to be dif- f e r e n t f r o m o t h e r a r t i s t s . I n terms of provocations, artists have already done too much. Your art shows an intent of protest. Against who or what? Most of my artworks can be d e s c r i b e d a s a d v e r t i s e m e n t campaigns, coming from a pos- sible, parallel reality. They look like propaganda but they lack of claims, body-copy and pay-off in order to be true advertise- ment. They don't sell anything, they just want to promote all the values of our society, without hypocrisy and lies. How do you deal with peo- ple who critisize your work? We are very lucky for being in a free world and everybody can tell his/her own opinion. Max Papeschi (left) and Tuan Anh Nguyen at the opening at IIC Mar. 2, Mon. - Dacia Maraini presents Chiara d'Assisi: in Praise of Disobedience at Italian Cultural Institute, 814 Montgomery Street, San Francisco at 6.30. For info and registration events@davincisanfrancisco.com Mar. 4, Wed - Taranto: Rudders Adrift A year in the city: Words and images from the civilization of steel. EV Group & Salvatore Visone present: Cyop & Kaf Rudders Adrift – Taranto: A year in the city. Words and images from the civilization of steel. Italian Cultural Institute. For info: (415) 788-7142 or Email: contact.san- francisco@esteri.it Mar. 5, Wed - BAIA Aperitivo in San Francisco: each first Wednesday of the month the Italian networking event. Location to be determined. Check http://link.baia-network.org/events and https://www.facebook.com/BAIAnetwork for more. Mar. 5, Thurs. - Mario Monicelli: Satires, Capers & Sendups. Half-hidden gems from the king of 'comedy Italian style'. 7:30 p.m. The Passionate Thief, Mario Monicelli (Italy, 1960). (Risate di giola). 4K Digital Restoration! PFA Theatre: 2575 Bancroft Way (between College and Telegraph), Berkeley. Info at http://bampfa.berkeley.edu/filmseries/monicelli_2015 Mar. 7, Sat. - Mario Monicelli: Satires, Capers & Sendups. Half- hidden gems from the king of 'comedy Italian style'. 6:30 p.m. Big Deal on Madonna Street, Mario Monicelli (Italy, 1958). (I soliti ignoti). Imported Print! PFA Theatre: 2575 Bancroft Way (between College and Telegraph), Berkeley. Info at http://bampfa.berkeley.edu/filmseries/monicelli_2015 Mar. 9, Mon.- sfSoundSalonSeries: Marco Fusi New Italian music for violin and viola. Italian new music specialist Marco Fusi visits the Bay Area with a program of contemporary violin and viola works by some of the most innovative Italian composers working today. Center for New Music, 55 Taylor Street, San Francisco. Info http://centerfornewmusic.com Mar. 14 & 15, Sat & Sun - La Cleopatra: a forgotten Venetian opera. Music by Daniele da Castrovillari - Libretto by Giacomo dall'Angelo 1662 - Teatro San Angelo - Venezia. Marines' Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter Street, San Francisco Info at http://www.arsminerva.org/#!la-cleopatra/ccgt Mar. 20, Fri.- Mario Monicelli: Satires, Capers & Sendups. Half- hidden gems from the king of 'comedy Italian style'. 7:30 p.m. The Great War, Mario Monicelli (Italy, 1959). (La grande guerra). Imported Print! PFA Theatre: 2575 Bancroft Way (between College and Telegraph), Berkeley. Info at http://bampfa.berkeley.edu/film- series/monicelli_2015 American Wedding #1 from "Disney Under Attack" collection

• Cover