July 15–September 4, 2022
The internationally renowned Italian artist Marinella Senatore, whose largest “luminarie” in Germany to yet is on display at kunst findet stadt in Baden-Baden, will continue to draw attention this year with significant shows in Paris and London.
Baden-Baden—Baden-Baden’s Kurgarten will once again become an open-air art gallery this summer. kunst findet stadt will be showing three works by the Italian artist Marinella Senatore from July 15—an exhibition open to all and with free admission. Two of the works were especially created for the urban space in Baden-Baden. After Jeppe Hein (2021), Marinella Senatore is the second artist selected for kunst findet stadt by the artistic advisory board led by Dr. Thomas Köhler, director of the Berlinische Galerie, and Prof. Dr. Florian Matzner, art historian at the Academy of Fine Arts. In addition to the exhibition in Baden-Baden, Marinella Senatore will be present at internationally renowned art venues this year, including Palais de Tokyo (Paris) and Hayward Gallery (London).
The greatest piece of art by Marinella Senatore ever displayed in Germany serves as the focal point of the exhibition in Baden-Baden and was put on the façade of the Kurhaus. It was created and specially crafted for the façade of the Baden-Baden Kurhaus. The traditional luminaries that light up entire Southern Italian towns during public customary events and festivities serve as the source of inspiration for Marinella Senatore’s style of artwork. Wooden arches and geometric shapes are attached with colorful LED lamps to create entrances that evoke Baroque architecture. Marinella Senatore builds a system that makes the public realm politically active by including quotes on identity and strength in her “luminarie.”
She uses the light to design a location that serves as a “universal square” for many social groups. Her works of art produce energy that travels as light beams within or outside of a space, altering it and the people who are in it.
Among other places, Marinella Senatore’s “luminarie” have been set up along the High Line in New York (2018), the Piazza Duomo in Lecce as the backdrop for a renowned Dior fashion show (2020), and the courtyard of Palazzo Strozzi in Florence (2020). Students from a Baden-Baden high school worked closely with the artist to create the piece of art that will be on show on the Kurhaus’ façade during kunst findet stadt.
The public’s participation is a major topic in Marinella Senatore’s other two pieces as well. She sets up a stage for the crowd in the center of the Kurhaus Kolonnaden. In keeping with the adage “Dance First, Think Later,” kunst findet stadt creates a creative place for Baden-Baden locals and visitors. Marinella Senatore is well-known for her “School of Narrative Dance” (SOND), a mobile, free, and non-hierarchical participation initiative in addition to her internationally displayed “luminarie.” A different educational system founded on liberation, empowerment, and self-education is what Marinella Senatore offers with SOND. The School, which has a network of nearly 7 million participants in 23 countries, celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. On June 9th the celebrations started with a performance at Battersea Power Station in London on the occasion of her show Afterglow, presented by Mazzoleni, London—Torino.
The opening weekend of the exhibition is the ideal time to commemorate the foundation of this school for and with the public at kunst findet stadt. Marinella Senatore will provide the stage to the public for the duration of the show (which runs through September 4), giving associations, music groups, individuals, and dance groups tremendous creative flexibility to develop new group outlets.
The artwork Bodies in Alliance will thereafter be positioned in the Kurgarten’s center. The Judith Butler quotation challenges viewers to engage with the artwork and become a part of it.
Marinella Senatore, who was born in 1977, presently resides in Rome. She has training in visual arts, music, and film. She is a multidisciplinary artist. Her work is distinguished by a commitment to and close cooperation with regional communities. In order to create fluid and diverse environments, Marinella Senatore utilizes the surrounding environment into her artwork. Her works have been on display at the Centre Pompidou in Paris as well as in other cities like New York, Berlin, Miami, and Tel Aviv. Additionally, Marinella Senatore has taken part in a number of Biennales, including those in Palermo, So Paulo, Havana, and Venice.
Jeppe Hein’s artworks from Denmark helped kunst findet stadt commemorate its debut in the summer of 2021. Baden-Baden Events GmbH designed the idea as an annual series. The goal of kunst findet stadt is to benefit the locals and visitors of Baden-Baden by giving the well-known Kurgarten a fresh perspective for a number of weeks this summer.
