The unpublished work is entitled “Velo” and is currently exhibited at the European Parliament in Brussels as part of the exhibition Bridging Borders.
A hand supports another hand that lies down exhausted and from which a veil sadly hangs. Not just any veil, but a hijab, the Islamic veil mandatory for women in Iran. It is with this unpublished sculpture - with the emblematic title "Veil" - that the artist Nello Petrucci wanted to remember Mahsa Amini, the Iranian activist who died in circumstances that have never been fully clarified, following her arrest in Tehran on 13 September 2022 on charges of incorrect use of the hijab, the Islamic veil.
The work, together with four others by the Pompeian artist, is part of the exhibition Bridging Borders curated by Chiara Canali and hosted these days (from 5 to 8 September 2023) in the prestigious open space room “Paul-Henri Spaak” of the European Parliament in Place Luxembourg by the Honorable MEP Lucia Vuolo.
Exhibited for the first time to the public on this occasion, the sculpture “Velo” (2023) is dedicated to Mahsa Amini, who has become an icon of gender discrimination and human rights violations. For Petrucci, the work also wants to be a tribute to the victims of the Iranian resistance who fight for freedom, justice, dignity and their determination not to be crushed by violence and oppression.
“The helping hand we all need – explains Chiara Canali, curator of the exhibition Bridging Borders – can be seen as that tool that often helps us move forward. The support in facing our tortuous paths of life, our fears, our challenges…”.
“In this work - adds - the artist in his entirety shows us very clear and direct pictorial elements. The strength, the support, while the other hand that is supported represents fragility and vulnerability. The importance of mutual support and solidarity inspires us to extend a hand to all those who need help, support and to be in solidarity with others”.
In Bridging Borders there are 5 works chosen by the artist Nello Petrucci to testify and share his reflection on the role of art as a powerful tool for awakening consciences and vigilant attention to collective and individual responsibilities.
In addition to “Velo” there is the plaster, resin and iron sculpture, entitled Blasted Harmony, which instead captures the essence of the struggle between the beauty of art and the brutal reality of war, represented by two hands in a moment of strong impact that embodies the duality of humanity.
Along with the two sculptures, the protagonists of the exhibition are also three large canvases with mixed media collages to which the artist has attributed three eloquent titles: Hell, Europa and Ragioni. The three works are characterized by the use of halftone, a technique that forces the viewer to get closer to the work to focus on the image and better understand the reality depicted.
The exhibition will be open to the public from 12:30 on Tuesday 5th until 13:8 pm on Friday 2023th September 9 with the following times and methods: 18am-17pm, free admission permitted with a limited number of admissions and until XNUMXpm, subject to mandatory registration at the email segreteria@luciavuolo.eu, indicating name, surname, identity card number and date of birth.
EDITORIAL TEAM
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