Ecuadorian
artist Maria Rosa Jijon’s personal exhibition titled “It’s just
a game” curated by Martina Sconci will open at the MU.SP.A.C (Museo
Sperimentale di Arte Contemporanea) Thursday, May 31st,
2012 at 6.30 pm.
This
is the fourth contemporary art event to take place within the project
“Percorsi Migranti” (“Migrant trails”) promoted by
the Coordinamento Ricostruire Insieme in collaboration with MU.SP.A.C
with the purpose of fostering intercultural encounters in L’Aquila
and elsewhere, by means of various disciplines.
A
thought by Simon Bolivar opens the exhibition: with utmost
disillusionment the “Libertador” of Latin
America speaks about the future of his region, casting a pessimistic
glance on the future and inviting the public to reflect
upon the meaning of migration.
In
the video “It’s just a game” infrared cameras record
border crossing by migrants. Playing with the ambivalence of the
meaning of the word “game”, meant as a playful activity and as
“prey”. Images, ironically accompanied by repetitive and
alienating videogame music generate reflections on the means of
control. In a cyberage whereas the zeroing of spatial and temporal
distances offers opportunities for greater freedom in terms of
overcoming barriers, moving fast and acting remotely, we are still
“preys” or “pawns” of a videogame controlled by society. The
State surveils us but we cannot surveil the State.
Signs
used in anti-immigration demonstrations have been retrieved by the
artist from various xenophobic websites to create the installation
“STOP!”, and communicate a sense of danger and alert.
The
installation “Extraterritorial.
Remake 2004-2012” surrounds
the public with pages of the Bossi-Fini law, while members of the
Latin American community of Rome read its articles. By doing so they
remind us of the problems they have to face, such as those related to
their children’s citizenship.
“Sujeto
Movil” stirs
up a reflection on the image of the foreigner in contemporary
society, whereas he/she is given physical or behavioral features
outside of traditional rules, with the purpose of generating fear,
rejection, perplexity. By doing so the support of an a-critical
audience accustomed to consume messages without discerning
their contents and purposes is being gained. People
that appear in the video, silent in front of the camera, show
themselves for what they are. The ensuing image represents an ironic
criticism of genetic, ethnic and racial differences, as these were
attributed to migrants through the original use of anthropological
photography in studies on genetic diversity.
“Kika” is
an Ecuadorian woman that dreamt of migrating to Europe to live a
better life. She tells us in confidence about her story of failed
migration, reminding all of us that “
we
are condemned to a life of choices, but not all of us have the means
to choose”: (Z. Bauman)
