On the occasion of Poiesis – the festival of poetry, art, music, film and drama that will be held for the fifth time in Fabriano from 25 to 27 May 2012 – the Fondazione Ermanno Casoli presents a performance by the artist Francesco Arena, entitled Canzone (povera patria) and curated by Marcello Smarrelli, art director of the foundation. The event will take place on Friday 25 May at 8 pm and on Saturday 26 May at 8:30 pm, at the Chiostro di San Benedetto.
In his works Francesco Arena takes up facts and personages from more or less recent Italian and international history, reworking their political, religious and social elements in order to offer a new key to their interpretation.
In the performance Canzone (povera patria) a man strikes a metal pole with a grinder, emitting short and long sparks corresponding to the dots and dashes in Morse code. In this manner the man “writes” the lyrics of Povera Patria, one of Franco Battiato’s most popular songs, in which the singer-songwriter turns a lucid and critical gaze on Italy, expressing his scorn in harsh words (“Poor homeland! Crushed by the abuses of power of wicked people…"), but also sending a clear message of hope and deliverance (“It won’t change, it won’t change yes it’ll change, you’ll see it will change”).
As is typical of his research, on this occasion too Francesco Arena tackles a theme of great topical interest, work, and the value that should be given to it in a vision of our country’s future.
“By promoting this event,” declares deputy chairman Francesco Casoli, “the Fondazione Ermanno Casoli intends to underline the central role that work plays in people’s life and in the building of a fairer society. Francesco Arena allows us to reflect on a theme that has characterised the identity of Fabriano for years and that now needs new stimuli and new ideas more than ever before. It is with this spirit that the Fondazione Ermanno Casoli has long fostered an active dialogue between contemporary art and business, as it is only by developing a culture suited to innovation within organizations that we can think about creating new jobs.”
Venue for the performance: Chiostro San Benedetto, at the Complesso Monumentale di San Benedetto, Piazza Francesco Fabi Altini 9, Fabriano
Dates and timings: Friday 25 May, 8 pm; Saturday 26 May, 8:30 pm
Entrance: free
