The foundation Bevilacqua La Masa dedicates also this year with their initiative „vitrine accese“ (illuminated shopwindows) different studios and their windows in Seconda Calle de l’Ascension to 15 artists for a total of 3 months in order to promote, help and form them: A historic project of art residencies that animates the city since 1901 and will be inaugurated on the 27th of January.
Exhibition dates
From Wednesday 27th of January till Sunday 14th of February: Rémi Deymier, Giuseppe Di Liberto, Sara Manzan, Edoardo Ongarato
From Wednesday 17th of February till Sunday 7th of March: Giacomo Bianco, Francesco Casati, Giulia Deganello, Jingge Dong
From Wednesday 10th of March till Sunday 28th of March: Bruno Fantelli, Stefano Cescon, Federica Zanlucchi, Alessandro Zonta
From Wednesday 31st of March till Sunday 18th of April: Simone Carraro, Elena Della Corna, Angela Grigolato
A similar idea to the one of the Foundation Bevilacqua La Masa was now „adopted“ by 2 mascareri (mask producers) by bringing to life the initiative ON/OFF (a clear reference to the „illuminated shopwindows“): The touristic monoculture of the city has never been as evident as in the last year, when the pandemic and the missing visitors showed Venetians how much they really depend on tourism AND the streams of mass tourists.
Missing visitors and high rent
The missing visitors combined with the exorbitant rent (also imposed by some Venetian landlords themselves),… have led to numerous closures and empty shop windows, waiting for the next one to rent them out and painting a sad picture in Venice.
Today the numerous shop windows don’t show us the usual mix of low cost souvenirs or high-end artisanal products, but are decorated with strips of newspapers glued together. These windows shall now serve as temporary art galleries and make Venice a huge art gallery where artists can present their works (stimulating, provoking, … the passers-by) whilst the landlords wait for the next one to rent out their space.
