Salerno Biennale: all the winners of the fifth edition of BACS

The fifth edition of the Biennale d'Contemporary Art di Salerno è giunta al suo momento più alto con il conferimento dei premi per le varie sezioni della manifestazione.

Il maestro e curatore della Biennale Giuseppe Gorga ha consegnato i premi agli artisti vincitori.

An artistic invasion. The curator of the Biennale Giuseppe Gorga himself showed all his satisfaction introducing the award ceremony: “we invaded Salerno. The administration thanked me and even the delegate for Culture, Ermanno Guerra, returned to visit the Biennale after the inauguration”, and adds: “The level is high: there was a strong selection”.

The president of the jury, the Argentine Luis Gramet, wanted to underline that “Not only do the winners get exposure, but all the participants benefit. I am very happy.”
Important is the comment of Jorge Londoño, president of the Expolatina foundation, with which he promotes Latin American art abroad.

“As Expolatina we believe that agreements that allow for closer relations between two countries are fundamental – referring to the next agreements to be signed between BACS and Colombia -. We come from Latin America, a place with a great heritage, art and culture. All the Latin American countries that are looking at the Biennale today – from Guatemala, to Colombia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Argentina, Ecuador and others – will welcome with open arms the artists coming from Europe. The relationships that we are creating allow to strengthen the culture of art and peace”.

The voices of the artists. The winner of the sculpture section, María de los Ángeles, was moved when she said how the creative process and artistic work is long, complex, full of difficulties. But that, even in the hardest moments, we are told to "raise our arms in the face of difficulties" and complete the work. "This is the second time I've been here. I take away a very strong experience, of great personal growth" says the Chilean ceramist.

“We artists have the responsibility to build a better world” says the artist from Campania Laura Bruno. "Ours is a universal language. Many people here speak Spanish, but today we all understand each other through the language of art. I feel proud to be part of this beautiful slice of humanity, where the whole world is."

Echoes of the past. The Honduran artist Jaime Vallardo Chávez (also known as the artist of world coins), who received a certificate of merit, wanted to underline the quality, the high level of the Biennial organized by Giuseppe Gorga. “It is a source of pride to be here, where my roots are,” he explains. And like him, many other artists showed up at the most important artistic event of the Municipality of Salerno with the desire to discover a land with which there is more than a blood tie.

A festival that brings Salerno closer to the rest of the world and revives quality tourism.
Even though there are still a few days left until the end of the event (the last day to visit the BACS will be November 5), the numbers already speak of thousands of visitors and hundreds of artists who have stayed for a period that is decidedly longer than the average tourist. In fact, we are talking about 14-15 days spent in the city, often with high economic availability. An event in which the Municipality of Salerno and the Campania Region could decide to invest, as a driving force attracting quality tourism and coming from areas still little touched by local tourism communication.

All the winners of the fifth edition of the Salerno Contemporary Art Biennale:

Figurative section
1. Doreen Caliendo
2. Annalisa Cerio
3. Sara Pistilli (ex aequo Maria Luisa Sabato)
Abstract section
1. Berta María Marenco Gutiérrez
2. Valeria Nuzzo
3. Light Matos
Sculpture
1. María de los Ángeles Pérez Cotapos
2. There Munoz de Cote
3. Fabio Ricchetti
Neuroscience of the Arts Section
1. Jesus Villareal
2. Jessica Mejia Mejia
3. Kenneth Marin
Eco-sustainable section
1. Sardines
2. Paul Valerio
3. Ana Leonor Roca
Photography
1. Angelo Masone
2.Shakar Galajian
3. Antonia DiNardo
Installations
1. Roxana Esposito/Helena Daneri
2. Joseph Ragosta
3. Francesco Martini
Design Section
1. Flavio Borrelli
2. Franco Scalese Urciuoli
3. Francesca D'Elia
New Art Technologies Section
1. Antonio Pace
2. Ilenia Benedet
Surrealist Section
1. Pasquale Mastrogiacomo
2. Alberto Arguelo Guzman
3. Ilenia Vertullo (ex aequo with Jung Chi-Chang)

“Angelo Calabrese” Critics Award to Yurisel Hidalgo; “Environment and Climate” Award to Leo Erazzo; “Anna Rita Gorga” Award to Nicola Pellegrino; “Luciana Marciano” Award to Giuseppe Argenziano. Finally, the “City of Salerno” Award goes to Onésimo Ávila Lara.