PRESENTATION: Opiemme-Ciò che resta, ciò che cambia
Opiemme is a collective born in Turin, looking for new ways to present poetry. The artists’ poetics is known to get in touch the visual art world with the one of literature, with references to visual poetry and street poetry actions. Opiemme is known for having combined poetry with public art, for installations, calligrams and collective performances used for bringing verses in the street. Poetry becomes a medium for painting new images, and images become words for writing new poetry.
By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Marignana Arte Gallery Archive
Opiemme acts as a spokesperson for “public poetry,” creating open situations that engage impromptu participants or develop through community projects. The aim is to inspire reflections on the ways we are accustomed to communicating and understanding poetry. In this ever-evolving space, Opiemme introduces abstract forms, often distant from codified words or realistic illustrations, capturing the essence of the text through emotional and personal reinterpretation. Part of the collective’s research focuses on the relationship between humans, technology, and nature, without clear boundaries between these three aspects, which intertwine and blend. Opiemme’s work raises questions about the sense of inadequacy typical of our hyper-technological and hyper-informative era. Drawing on the concept of alienation introduced during the industrial age, Opiemme investigates “what remains and what changes” in a world increasingly distant from the natural cycles and rhythms to which humans were once accustomed. Opiemme’s solo exhibition “Ciò che resta, ciò che cambia” represents a new chapter in the evolution of the Turin-based collective, renowned since the early 2000s for merging poetry with public spaces. Their work bridges visual art and the written word, pioneering what has come to be known as “street poetry.” The exhibition explores the transformation of poetic language into abstract forms, delving into the power of words to evoke emotions and open spaces for reflection. A leading figure in contemporary verbo-visual research, Opiemme draws inspiration from the poetry of Andrea Zanzotto and his ethical-ecological approach to create works that dissolve textual meaning into images and sensations. Through the canvases of the “Rewritings” series and material collages born from en plein air installations, the collective investigates the concepts of change and rebirth, symbolizing matter’s ability to transform in order to survive. Since its inception in the early 2000s, Opiemme’s research has aimed to renew the way poetry communicates, often presenting it where the public least expects – in the streets, on walls, through participatory performances. This new artistic phase, showcased at Marignana Project, focuses on the relationship between words and nature, with a strong reference to reflection on the impact of progress on the environment. Like Zanzotto’s poetry, Opiemme prompts reflection on the balance between development and self-destruction, probing the limits of contemporary industrialized society. “Ciò che resta, ciò che cambia” invites visitors on a unique artistic journey that blends poetry, visual art, and ecological consciousness. Laden with emotional and cultural meanings, Opiemme’s works offer a space for intimate dialogue between the visitor and the work, exploring relevant contemporary themes. This exhibition firmly establishes Opiemme as one of the key contemporary exponents of verbo-visual research that began in the 1960s. Also, the group exhibition “Human Gravity,” a project conceived by Opiemme, who will present some of his latest works created specifically for this exhibition. In addition to Opiemme’s contributions, works by Arthur Duff, fuse*, Aldo Grazzi, Yojiro Imasaka, Silvia Infranco, Alessandra Maio and Quayola will also be on display. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on themes such as the desacralization of nature, humanity’s impact on the planet and the violence of anthropogenic processes. Additionally, they explore the salvific value of artistic expression as a means of investigating, reflecting on, and articulating the complex relationship between humanity and natural environment, offering the possibility of inspiring new reflections.
Photo: Opiemme, Unconscious segregation, 2024, spray, inks, acrylics on map 1995, 49×49,3 cm, © Opiemme, Courtesy the artists and Marignana Arte Gallery
Info: Marignana Arte Gallery, Marignana Project, Dorsoduro, 140 A, Rio Terà dei Catecumeni, Venice, Italy, Duration: 23/11/2024-18/1/2025, Days & Hours: Wed-Thu 14:00-19:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-19:00, www.marignanaarte.it/
