CAMeC, La Spezia, February 7 at 6:30 PM
On Friday, February 7 at 6:30 PM, in collaboration with the “Amici del CAMeC” Association, the Museum will host La Spezia-born artist Manuel Cossu in dialogue with curator Sergio Tossi on the occasion of a new project dedicated to Pope Roncalli and the prisoners of Regina Coeli.
The idea comes from a book about the life of Pope Roncalli. The project focuses entirely on a single day: Cossu explores and narrates through paintings and drawings this borderline day, where the Pope and prisoners merge in the struggle of existing, on December 26, 1958, during the Pope’s visit to the prisoners of Regina Coeli. Whether you are a prisoner or His Holiness. In a way, Manuel depicts the solution to the “mystery” of living: renunciation. If you do not renounce easy pleasures, you will renounce freedom. Some prisoners will do so. Some Popes as well. Manuel Cossu brings this concept to life with the power of images. The project is titled 26.12.58. The works are collected in an art book, published by Andante Books, Rome, printed in 100 numbered copies with a critical essay by Sergio Tossi.
Manuel Cossu (La Spezia, 1976) is a unique artist. His prolific production consists of acrylic paintings on canvas, but especially drawings, made with pen, marker, and pencil on any sheet of paper he happens to find. One of his first exhibitions was held in a pharmacy in La Spezia, with works drawn on the so-called “leaflets” from medicine packages. Cossu often pairs images with a sort of caption that narrates the drawing, specifies its improbable time-space context, and frames it physically and psychologically. His subjects include almost everything he reads about, people and characters who intrigue him, and mistreated or distressed animals. Some have forcefully entered his imagination (Dee Dee Ramone, Lilli Carati, Maria Callas, Mickey Mouse, Hank Williams…), while others appear sporadically, always imbued with profound humanity. Manuel Cossu has held numerous solo and group exhibitions, chapbooks, and illustrated books. The most recent: “Dee Dee Ramone. Apparizioni” and “COPS,” are both published by Andante Books, with contributions from Marco Giusti, television writer and critic, and Luca Arnaudo, art curator and critic. He has always lived in La Spezia and believes in everything.
Free admission until full capacity is reached.
