At the Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala was presented, from the 14 al November 16 2024 the first edition of XENOS. Performance festival. Dance, Music, Painting, Photography, Fashion and Virtual Reality. An event that is not only precious, but very precious for the intertwining of the arts, which experience a stellar performance.
Made in collaboration with the Municipality of Sienathe event was born from an idea of Cristiano LeonePresident of the Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala Foundation. The artistic direction is by Anna Lea Antolinithe executive production is entrusted to Impersivewith the contribution of SI.GE.RI.CO.
“The Festival represents an important piece in the construction of the new identity of the Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala Foundation – declares the President Cristiano Leone– driven by the desire to carry out projects
structuring and consistent with its mission and vision, with the aim of proposing important partnerships with city institutions, in order to restore connection between exhibitions, events and cultural events. Enhance young artists and in general every form of art that makes the expression of the body visible, this is the objective of Talent. From 14 to 16 November, XENOS will peacefully invade all the spaces of the Santa Maria della Scala museum complex in Siena. The programming will boast local, national and international artists, in a constant dialogue with the history of the Old Hospital, its architecture and its masterpieces. All spectators will participate as protagonists in the same way as the artists: in fact there will be no stages or separations to establish an ideal community”. Simultaneously with Xenos, then, the President Cristiano Leone inaugurated on November 14, 2024 “The Here and Now. Performance Unfolded”, exhibition by Giovanni De Angelis, curated by Claudia Pecoraro, again at the Santa Maria della Scala complex, at 5pm, in the spaces of the Ex Stalla. Completely site-specific, the exhibition will present a selection of works resulting from tireless research that the photographer has dedicated to performance over the years. Through De Angelis’ subjective shots, unrepeatable moments of artistic actions that have marked the history of this expressive language take shape. A precious gaze, his – art in dialogue with art – an instrument at the service of bodies, protagonists of abstractions and poetic narratives that go beyond the present time, giving the public an intimate and intense point of view on the ephemeral essence of art performative. By Claudia Pecorarowith the collaboration of Ines Musumeci Grecowill be open to the public until January 6 2025; over thirty shotssome of which are unpublished, which immortalize artists and performers, such as Marina Abramović, Araki, Andreco, Clement Cogitore, Anne Imhof, Sissi And Remy Yadan.
Promoted and produced by the Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala Foundation and the Municipality of Siena, the exhibition is conceived entirely site-specific and aims to establish a dialogue with the historical-architectural context that welcomes it and with the performers on stage during the Festival.
Through photographs – real studies on the essence of this particular expressive language – the sg
De Angelis’s work in turn becomes performative, giving an intimate vision of the nature of performance art, revealing the intensity of the relationship between the performing artist, his body in movement and the space-time dimension that surrounds him.
What does Xenos mean. The Greek term is equivalent to both foreigner and host. The complex of Santa Maria della Scala, also due to its proximity to the Via Francigena, was, in fact, one of the oldest and most illustrious xenodochi and hospitals of medieval Europe, a refuge for strangers and pilgrims.
The Festival, thanks to the power of the performances, wishes to give voice and give substance to all the individuals who have passed through here, the ancient hospital which becomes a place of profound reflection on what has been and what will be, celebrating the meeting between past and present .
Many artists are involved who will perform among the architecture and historical frescoes of the complex and among the spectators, without stages or separations, so that the public becomes the protagonist of the scene in a mutual exchange.
Local, national and international artists will take turns in a full program of events and the Festival is divided into various sections: XENOS VR, XENOS streams, The XENOS cure And Experiment carefully.
XENOS VR. Collects projects from large institutions in virtual realityamong these: ODE corporisvirtual reality experience of Rome Opera House in collaboration with Video city. A journey through the body, in the known and lesser-known spaces of the Costanzi Theater and its scenographic laboratory, a corporeal and spatial revelation for those who observe from the outside and for those who immerse themselves in a total virtual incorporation with Delfina Stella And Jacopo Giarda.
Virtual Dance for Real People of Aterballetto National Choreographic Center with choreography by Diego Tortelli, Saul Daniele Ardillo, Fernando Melo, Francesca Lattuada, Johan Inger. The project explores the relationship between dance, virtual reality and historical and museum spaces, creating situations in which the spectator and the dancer, separated in the theatre, coexist in the same space. Always in the section Peaceful placesexperience in virtual reality by and with Margherita Landi and Agnese Lanza. At the center of everything is the hug, understood as a universal gesture and primary necessity, the hug between people and generations, the hug between the organic and the virtual.
XENOS streams. In first ever Fernando Montaño presents Growing up a one-of-a-kind pictorial dance. Alanna Archibald And Sedrig Dimitrie Verwoert for the first time together in Italy, they present The ritual by Sedrig Dimitrie Verwoert, a duet particularly close to the themes of the Festival. In the Italian premiere Mehdi Baki and the Sovage Orchestra they propose PGM.raw a rush of energy between hip-hop, contemporary dance and electronic music. And again Marie Albert And Giacomo Luci who exhibit their bodily work together with the sound work of the master composer Daniele Roccato on the double bass in Where, To where, He leaves towards the pole as part of the exhibition Constellations, Italian Art 1915-1960 come on Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena collections And Cesare Brandi.
The section is also enriched by the presence of Filippo Pieroni Sienese artist of international resonance for his illustrious collaborations such as the one with Le Cirque du Soleil; from the Virgilio Sieni Company with a reflection on the human interpreted by Jari Boldrini, Maurizio Giunti and the cellist Naomi Berrill.
In the end, Eros, dance of love edited by Daniele Cipriani with the costumes of Roberto Capucciundisputed master of Italian high fashion. They wear his theatrical creations the extraordinary Sergio Bernalconsidered the brightest star of international contemporary flamenco, Damiano Ottavio Bigiaward-winning dancer and member of the Tanztheater Wuppertal since 2005 (Pina Bausch), Daniele Sibillieclectic performer and one of the protagonists of pop star Madonna’s latest events. All to the notes of the cellist Silvia Chiesa and the pianist Yevgeni Galanovand on the poetess’ verses for children Lina Schwarzperformed by Giorgio Marelli.
XENOS care and Experimenting with care. They present practical theoretical workshops aimed at psychophysical well-being and artistic expression held by Francesca Proiaa reference figure for yogic practice in Europe, from Camilla Guerino And Giuseppe Comuniellopromoters of research into ability and disability, and the aforementioned Delfina Stella and Jacopo Giarda, Margherita Landi and Agnese Lanza.
The festival is enriched by DJ set with PERFORMANCEknown for connecting numerous sounds in a creative way, exploring various declinations of electronics, tracing a common thread between UK Bass, Breaks, Garage, Electro and much more, offering a personal vision of contemporary ‘club music’.
On the occasion of the last day of the Festival, Saturday November 16 2024, the winners of the tender performed Performing arts talent for young people under 35organized by the Municipality of Siena: the trio of John Comina, Mirco Badalassi, Francesco Mezzogori; the only one Simone Cristofori; the duet of Alessandro Antinori And Federica Silvestro. Participation in the Festival is subject to the purchase of the entrance ticket to the Museum according to the prices in force.
Carlo Franza
Tags: Andreco, Anne Imhof, Araki, Clement Cogitore, Flows of XENOS, Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala, The cure of cura., Studio Lovatelli, XENOS VR, XENOS. Performance festival.