ELENA MAZZI

Within her artistic practice, Elena Mazzi starts from the examination of specific territories, she reinterprets the cultural and natural heritage of places, interweaving stories, facts and fantasies handed down by local communities, in order to suggest possible resolutions to the man-nature-culture conflict. Her somewhat anthropological working method favours a holistic approach aimed at repairing the rifts that occur in society. She begins the work with observation and proceeds by combining various areas of knowledge. 

Elena Mazzi (born in 1984 in Italy) studied visual arts at the Iuav University in Venice, after which she trained at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm. The artist is currently pursuing a practice-based PhD at Villa Arson in Nice. Her works have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions, including: Lulea Biennale, PAV – Parco Arte Vivente in Turin, der TANK in Basel, BIENALSUR, MADRE in Naples, ar/ge kunst in Bozen, Sodertalje Konsthall in Stockholm, Whitechapel Gallery in London, BOZAR in Brussels, Museo del Novecento in Florence, MAGA in Gallarate, GAMeC in Bergamo, MAMbo in Bologna, Sonje Art Center in Seoul, Palazzo Fortuny in Venice, the Golinelli Foundation in Bologna, 16th Quadriennale in Rome, GAM in Turin, the 14th Istanbul Biennial, the 17th BJCEM Mediterranean Biennial, COP17 in Durban, the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, Brussels, Stockholm, Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the Bevilacqua La Masa Foundation in Venice. She has been awarded residencies at ZK/U, Skaftfell Center for the Arts, HIAP, GuilmiArtProject, Via Farini, Foundation Botin, Bevilacqua La Masa, Future Farmers A.I.R., Fondazione Spinola Banna, Botkyrka Konsthall AIR. Notable nominations include Cantica21 promoted by the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Culture, Italian Council, Ermanno Casoli Prize, STEP Beyond Prize, the OnBoard Prize, VISIO Young Talent Acquisition Prize, Eneganart Prize, Illy scholarship for Unidee, Pistoletto Foundation, nctm and art prize, Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation prize, Lerici Foundation prize, and Movin’up.

WORKS ON VIEW FROM 27 MARCH TO 14 APRIL, 2024 

The series Polifonie Italiane continues with Elena Mazzi who will present two videos: POÇ and Encounters.

Elena Mazzi, POÇ, 2023 Still from video. Courtesy Ephemera. Cultura immateriale and the artist

The first, POÇ (2023) is a film centered on a pristine pool of water where nature blends with human involvement. This pool, fed by a natural spring, is meticulously cared for by locals who treat it like a cherished member of their community rather than just a feature of the landscape. It serves not only as a recreational area but also undergoes regular cleaning and maintenance, reflecting the community’s pride and appreciation for nature. Shielded from tourism and safeguarded by the locals like a precious heirloom, the pool serves a purpose beyond mere utility, fostering a familial identity and nurturing mutual trust among its guardians.

The second, Encounters (2021) is the last part of a cycle of works created by the artist following an accident while diving off a cliff. After a period of immobility, the artist sought  to rediscover a harmony between body and landscape. In 2018, she embarked on a journey to Iceland, a place known for its harmonious coexistence between humans and nature as demonstrated by the numerous natural pools, hidden in remote and inaccessible locations, where people regularly immerse themselves. Among these, the Seljavallalaug swimming pool holds particular significance. Carved into a mountain in the 1920s by a local resident, it served as a means to teach swimming to others inhabitants in response to the frequent accidents along the nearby coastline. This pool stands as a powerful symbol of historical, social, and environmental significance.