“[LIVING] IS A SPECTACULAR FORM OF AMNESIA. EVERYTHING IS TO BE DISCOVERED, EVERYTHING TO BE OBLITERATED.”
AMERICA, JEAN BAUDRILLARD
Whispers of Amnesia reshapes the timeless wisdom of “not airing dirty laundry in public” into an act of reclamation. Through these works of art, both the artist and the curator unveil a legacy marked by betrayed promises, disintegrated bonds, and conflicts that simmer in the shadows. In a world that fosters willful blindness, these creations serve as a stark reminder of society’s gendered constructs, physical struggles, and forsaken individual freedoms. Nurtured by a haunting silence, veiled in threads of forgotten narratives, and shrouded in the concealment of daily rituals, Whispers of Amnesia invites you to a spectacle of memories erased and to be erased every single day. Amidst the disquieting hum of societal amnesia, artist Lanfranco Aceti, curated by Artemis Potamianou, brings you a public revelation of private truths. In Classic Greek, truth (ἀλήθεια) is understood as the absence of amnesia (λήθη), a profound state of consciousness where nothing is forgotten, and everything is remembered. It is within this realm of unwavering memory that we embark on a journey that invites you to explore the intricate tapestry of forgotten narratives and concealed truths.
As the sun sets on a world burned by its own indifference, Whispers of Amnesia gradually unfolds, weaving together narratives of toxic waste, social conflicts, and personal turmoil. This new solo exhibition by Lanfranco Aceti was produced under the aegis of the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale and is part of the collateral events approved by Leslie Lokko, the curator of the 2023 edition of the Biennale. The exhibition — that takes place from October 7 to November 06, 2023 — is supported by the Ella Association with the contribution of the Municipality of Taranto, in collaboration with Crac Puglia, Centro di Ricerca Arte Contemporanea, AMACI, and the Taranto Grand Tour. The exhibition inaugurates the fourth edition of Mas Week, the festival of architecture, design and contemporary art.
The works of art, a blend of fabrics, sculptures, installations, and etched linen, lay bare the collective act of forgetfulness we perform each day in order to keep on living. The artist asks the viewer to confront our toxic liaisons with the capitalistic and patriarchal state. The works of art — realized as a series of sculptures, videos, installations, and paintings — are installed in the mesmerizing setting of Palazzo Pantaleo in Taranto.
Image Captions:
Image 1: Lanfranco Aceti, With Gratitude, 2023. Silk damask blanket from San Leucio, cotton, pink thread, and acrylic paint. Dimensions: 270 cm. x 300 cm. Site specific installation. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 2: Lanfranco Aceti, The King and I, 2023. Damask blanket, cotton, pink thread, and acrylic paint. Dimensions: 270 cm. x 300 cm. Site specific installation. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 3: Lanfranco Aceti, The King and I, 2023. Damask blanket, cotton, pink thread, and acrylic paint. Detail. Dimensions: 270 cm. x 300 cm. Site specific installation. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 4: Lanfranco Aceti, The King and I, 2023. Damask blanket, cotton, pink thread, and acrylic paint. Detail. Dimensions: 270 cm. x 300 cm. Site specific installation. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 5: Lanfranco Aceti, Ariadne’s Regret, 2023. Embroidered cotton bed linen, blue China rayon, pink threads, and acrylic paint. Dimensions: 300 cm. x 320 cm. Site specific installation. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 6: Lanfranco Aceti, Ariadne’s Regret, 2023. Embroidered cotton bed linen, blue China rayon, pink threads, and acrylic paint. Detail. Dimensions: 300 cm. x 320 cm. Site specific installation. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 7: Lanfranco Aceti, Ariadne’s Regret, 2023. Embroidered cotton bed linen, blue China rayon, pink threads, and acrylic paint. Detail. Dimensions: 300 cm. x 320 cm. Site specific installation. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 8: Lanfranco Aceti, Ariadne’s Regret, 2023. Embroidered cotton bed linen, blue China rayon, pink threads, and acrylic paint. Detail. Dimensions: 300 cm. x 320 cm. Site specific installation. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 9: Lanfranco Aceti, Ariadne’s Regret, 2023. Embroidered cotton bed linen, blue China rayon, pink threads, and acrylic paint. Detail. Dimensions: 300 cm. x 320 cm. Site specific installation. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 10: Lanfranco Aceti, #HAPPYBIRTHDAY, 2023. Print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 35 cm. x 50 cm.
Image 11: Lanfranco Aceti, My Words on Fire (aka I Am Dido on the Pyre), 2023. Embroidered cotton bed linen, mother of pearl buttons, and acrylic paint. Dimensions: 300 cm. x 320 cm. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 12: Lanfranco Aceti, My Words on Fire (aka I Am Dido on the Pyre), 2023. Embroidered cotton bed linen, mother of pearl buttons, and acrylic paint. Detail. Dimensions: 300 cm. x 320 cm. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 13: Lanfranco Aceti, My Words on Fire (aka I Am Dido on the Pyre), 2023. Embroidered cotton bed linen, mother of pearl buttons, and acrylic paint. Detail. Dimensions: 300 cm. x 320 cm. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 14: Lanfranco Aceti, My Words on Fire (aka I Am Dido on the Pyre), 2023. Embroidered cotton bed linen, mother of pearl buttons, and acrylic paint. Detail. Dimensions: 300 cm. x 320 cm. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 15: Lanfranco Aceti, My Words on Fire (aka I Am Dido on the Pyre), 2023. Embroidered cotton bed linen, mother of pearl buttons, and acrylic paint. Detail. Dimensions: 300 cm. x 320 cm. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 16: Lanfranco Aceti, #INSTAGOOD, 2023. Print on fine art paper. Dimensions: 35 cm. x 50 cm.
Image 17: Lanfranco Aceti, With Gratitude, 2023. Silk damask blanket from San Leucio, cotton, pink thread, and acrylic paint. Dimensions: 270 cm. x 300 cm. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 18: Lanfranco Aceti, With Gratitude, 2023. Silk damask blanket from San Leucio, cotton, pink thread, and acrylic paint. Detail. Dimensions: 270 cm. x 300 cm. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 19: Lanfranco Aceti, Whispering Ghost I, 2023. Sculpture. Steel, 1930s cotton sheets, acrylic paint, mother of pearl buttons, sequins, and out of production fabric. Dimensions: 200 cm. x 100 cm. Photography: Giorgio Ciardo.
Image 20: Lanfranco Aceti, Whispering Ghost I, 2023. Sculpture. Steel, 1930s cotton sheets, acrylic paint, mother of pearl buttons, sequins, and out of production fabric. Dimensions: 200 cm. x 100 cm.
Image 21: Lanfranco Aceti, The Lies You Whispered and Left on my Lips, 2023. Print on steel. Dimensions: 200 cm. x 132 cm.
