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14/11/2007

Francesco Vezzoli

Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich

Primadonnas

Curator: Bernhart Schwenk

After a seven-year break it is back again: the legendary Edition 46 of the »Magazin« of the newspaper »Süddeutsche Zeitung«. This issue is designed entirely by international contemporary artists. To mark its revival the Pinakothek der Moderne is holding an exhibition.

Francesco Vezzoli is the first contributor. The Milan-based artist, who was born in Brescia in 1971, has made a name for himself with his hand-made embroideries of divas from the world of fashion, film and television. His portraits of Hollywood legends such as Joan Crawford and Liz Taylor, Silvana Mangano, Romy Schneider and »Blow Up« star Veruschka von Lehndorff, each one an artwork created from needle and thread, combine his craftsmanship with the timeless radiance of world famous icons. For some ten years now, Vezzoli has also been making videos that fascinate audiences with their eccentricity, eroticism and glamour. He attracted international attention with a trailer to a film (never shot) about the Roman Emperor Caligula, which was shown in the Italian Pavilion at the 2005 Venice Biennale.

Now Vezzoli is to present his exhibition »Primadonnas« at the Pinakothek der Moderne. Centrepiece will be his video installation »Democrazy« that was premiered at this year’s Biennale in Venice. »Democrazy« combines two fictitious commercials for US presidential election campaigns with two likewise fictitious candidates – played by Hollywood actress Sharon Stone and the French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy. In the one-minute commercials world power and spoof audiences, politics and show business merge with the truth, images and slogans on a common stage of game-playing. Reality is interpreted as a documentary drama; the gripping trailer replaces a comprehensive view of the historical whole. It is only after a while that the issue of significance and individuality arises. How interchangeable are political programmes? How do we arrive at the images that construct our reality? Which ones will be the myths of our time?

Parallel to »Democrazy« Vezzoli is presenting his latest series of embroidered pictures portraying the wives of former American presidents. In the exhibition context of »Primadonnas« (literally: »first ladies«) the concept of »First Ladies« is illuminated in a new light. Interestingly enough, the word »primadonna« does not exist in the Italian language. It is an Anglo-Saxon invention that is used in German to describe not only a female solo artist from the highly dramatic and turbulent world of opera – but also as an expression for an eccentric person seeking (and usually finding) the undivided attention of those around.

With the kind support of the Dresdner Bank

Opening: 15.11.2007, 19

Pinakothek der Moderne
Barer Strasse 40 - Munich

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