Volcano Extravaganza: Fiorucci Art Trust Announces Their fifth Edition Programme

Volcano Extravaganza

The Fiorucci Art Trust has announced the fifth edition of Volcano Extravaganza, an annual festival of contemporary art, presented on the Sicilian island of Strombol. The project was unveiled last week at a lunch, at the Wolseley in Mayfair. It was attended by Nicoletta Fiorucci founder of the trust along with the innovative curator Milovan Farronato. The programme will stage the adaptation of a prophetic manuscript where the author remains anonymous.on its title and acting on praise for obscurity, ‘In Favour of a Total Eclipse’ will feature a brand new series of artists’ projects, taking place in the most secluded spots and locations of the volcanic island. The programme will begin with the new moon on Friday 17 July and last until 27 July, the peak of the Delta Aquarids meteor shower.

In Favour of a Total Eclipse will unfold over the course of three acts recalling the symbolism of the original, eponymous narrative text, where failing to appear was the virtue at stake.  The manuscript was discovered upon Fiorucci Art Trust’s first visit to Stromboli in 2008 and it was handed over the the organisation to preserve and decipher its contents.  The act of translating is difficult by definition and, in this specific instance, has not been resolved in all its parts. The composition in three sections of the manuscript is faithfully mirrored in the format of this year’s festival, yet a subjective interpretation of the original script is given. Two dates (20 & 24 July) are left purposely unprogrammed and open to reflection and meditative moments.

The active volcano and unlit landscape of Stromboli will become the natural, ideal stage for As below so above (17-19 July), including a special screening-come-performance by experimental film makers Kenneth Anger & Brian Butler; a dance performance on top of the active volcano by Mathilde Rosier; and live Thermit welding on the darkest shores by Raphael Hefti.

During the second act (21-23 July), the powerful energies of the works of Thomas Zipp, Adriano Costa and Kembra Pfahler will come together to celebrate a tribute, apology and praise to the volcano.  On three different days, the artists will each present a new work, including a parade, sacred offerings and collective performative actions. The title of this chapter is still being decoded, while its relation to transhumance seems certain.

The third and final act, La Catastrophe, will see otherworldly appearances and endings. Goshka Macuga’s alien will deliver its first speech to humans and films by Pedro Paiva & Joao Maria Gusmao will open the possibilities for other kinds of sightings. On the last day, Christodoulos Panayiotou’s performative lecture will focus on the representation of death on stage.

In Favour of a Total Eclipse includes a collaboration with The Vinyl Factory, London, who will present a special music programme as part of Volcano Extravaganza. Legendary Italian DJ Daniele Baldelli will p lay a special ‘Cosmic” disco set all-night long under the srats on 18 July, hosted at Stromboli’s club Mega. On 19 July, sound and sea waves will intertwine on the beach for a unique live set by a special guest TBA, played from a boat as a companion piece to Rafael Hefti’s performance artwork. The Vinyl Factory film team will be on Stromboli documenting the events for their online channel. A special limited edition vinyl in celebration of Volcano Extravaganza 2015 will be released by The Vinyl factory later in the year, including contributions from Adriano Costa and Thomas Zipp, among others.

On Friday 18 September at 8pm, the Serpentine Galleries in association with Fiorucci Art Trust will present Christodoulos Panayiotou’s Dying on Stage, a lecture/reading exploring the hierarchical order of literal, metaphorical and symbolic deaths on the stage, as well as the philological concept of’tragic irony’, through readings, videos and dance. This new version of Dying on Stage, which features dancer Jean Capeille in a choreography by Panayiotou in Stromboli on the occasion of In Favour of a Total Eclipse.

In Favour of a Total Eclipse:  17 July Kenneth Anger & Brian Butler, 18 July Mathilde Rosier, 19 July Raphale Hefti, 21 July Thomas Zipp, 22 July Adriano Costa, 23 July Kembra Pfahler, 25 July, Goshka Macuga, 26 July Pedro Paiva & Joao Maria Gusmao, 27 July Christdoulos Panayiotou

Music programme presented by Vinyl Factory: 18 July Daniele Baldelli, 19 July to be announced

Every summer since 2011, the foundation established by the art collector Nicoletta Fiorucci has sponsored a Volcano Extravaganza – a festival of music and dance performance, film screenings and exhibitions – by a rotating crew of international artists. This year, they came from London, New York, Cairo, Cyprus, Brazil and beyond, invited by Extravaganza director Milovan Farronato and his guest curator, the English installation artist Haroon Mirza. For a theme, they chose “Forget Amnesia”. The Sicilian island of Stromboli hosted the fourth edition of Volcano Extravaganza, the yearly festival of contemporary art presented by the Fiorucci Art Trust.

Volcano Extravaganza takes place on the volcanic island of STromboli, Aeolian Islands, Italy between 17-27 July.  The intention is to investigate different forms of experimentation across the visual arts, asking participants to rethink their work within the unique context of the Italian island.

Photo: Left curator Milovan Farronato Right: Nicoletta Fiorucci founder Fiorucci Art Trust  

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