“Sottile Instabilità / Subtle Instability”, 2022 Soya leather and acacia thorns 3 March – 29 May 2022
For its third showcase, Vino Vero presents a site-specific work by the Venetian artist Matilde Sambo, whose research explores the complicated relationship between the natural world and the human being, between instinct and rationality. An essential aspect of her artistic practice is the reflection of the concept of “the fragment”, which is investigated on several levels: through sculpture, video and sound. Matilde Sambo’s research generates apparently contradictory concepts that intersect on common points and then merge. The artist often uses extremely ductile and fragile organic materials to represent the importance of change and transformation as fundamental principles of the natural cycle; elements that she then puts into dialogue with materials that are mostly made of metal metal and linked to the sculptural tradition.
Disorientation and narratives of imaginary worlds are themes present in all her works, which are often presented as immersive environments in which all the senses are activated and stimulated. Matilde Sambo says of her work: “What most intrigues me about soy skin is its capacity for transforming: initially it appears moist and elastic so that it can be moulded, folded, laid down or inserted into recesses and crevices. As soon as it is exposed to the air, it morphs, dries out and changes colour. It becomes very fragile, shattering into small pieces just by being touched. Its subtle, organic consistency immediately evokes the skin, revealing its symbolic potential.” She goes on to explain her ideas further: “everything is enchanting, if it were not for the thorns that slowly tear, taking on the appearance of ambivalent white weapons that pierce but protect. Symbolising inner turmoil and at the same time an intrinsic strength that pushes outwards.”
It is no coincidence that this new Showcase opens on 2 March 2022, which in the Christian calendar is Ash Wednesday. “Subtle Instability” by Matilde Sambo here represents a desire for transition, the thorns that pierce the soy skin refer to a religious imagery that here is transfigured and fragmented. An image of suffering and fragility: to gather and transform oneself, is to generate a new strength, a new possibility.
Vetrina presents a series of “boxed exhibitions” curated by Mara Sartore for Vino Vero in collaboration with Lightbox. Every three months internationally renowned artists working on the theme of nature are invited to present their site-specific works in the wine club’s window next to the bar.
Matilde Sambo
Graduated in Visual Arts at the IUAV University of Venice, Matilde Sambo (Venice, 1993) has participated in national and international art projects and residencies including: VIR, Via Farini in Residence (Milan), Open Studio Fonderia Artistica Battaglia (Milan), BoCs Art (Cosenza), Collective Signatures (Balearic Islands), Tagli (Stromboli), New Echo System, Pro Helvetia (Venice), Art Colony, Bronze Symposium (Hungary) Art Encounters “Six Steps forward one step back” Volvo Studio (Milan), Festival Angelica (Bologna), Pasinger Fabrik (Munich), Argo 16 (Venice), Radio Raheem (Milan). “Falsehood in good conscience” atA29 Project Room (Milan).
With the second appointment of Osti per una sera we will travel from Burgundy to Liguria.
Can two people sitting at a table cause noise to such an extent that it is not considered tolerable and this lead to the closure of only one wine bar?
The Court of Venice has said no! In fact, it assessed that given the specificity of the context and the conditions leading to noise emissions, it is not possible to determine the source of the noise.
The court’s decision also took into account the recent regulatory changes adopted by the Venice City Council, which set precise limitations on the hours of operation of establishments in the area of Fondamenta della Misericordia.
The court, in light of all this, considered Vino Vero’s earlier closing time to be unjustified and therefore upheld the complaint and reformed the order in question.
Vino Vero thus returns to its usual hours: closing at midnight every day except Friday and Saturday, when it closes at one o’clock.
We are happy that we can continue to do our work, with the professionalism that has always characterised us. We love Venice and we do not want this city to become a museum with fixed and predetermined opening and closing times.
Precisely because we love and live in Venice, we know how important residents’ need for tranquillity and rest is, and – with profound respect for this – we felt that this was a good opportunity to ask ourselves about the future we want – as citizens – for Venice and the historic centres of many Italian cities, with the aim of activating a positive, participatory public dialogue.
Vino Vero is not just a wine bar, we cultivate culture and we want to continue to do so. Thank you all for supporting us so far: we have won, but we want to continue to fight so that Venice remains a city which is alive beyond mere tourism. That is why it is important to continue collecting signatures, to show that there are many of us who want Venice to stay alive.