The exhibition Art is the Message represents an important reflection on the role of contemporary art in today's society. Curated by Virginia Monteverde, this video art exhibition offers a plurality of views and approaches through the work of seven artists who stand out not only for the techniques they use but also for the themes they address: Stefano Cagol, Elisabetta Di Sopra, Igor Imhoff, Eleonora Roaro, Jean Sadao, Paolo Treni, Koen Vanmechelen.
The collaboration between MAIIIM and MuMA further broadens artistic perspectives, joining forces to promote an exhibition that not only celebrates visual art, but also investigates the communicative potential of video as a medium. In an age when communication is pervasive and heavily influenced by digital media, Marshall McLuhan's theoretical impact is more evident than ever. His assertion that “the medium is the message” resurfaces in an artistic context where forms and mediums become integral parts of the message itself.
The selected artists, each with a distinctive language, encapsulate the dynamics of our time and future challenges in their works, stimulating critical reflection on how we consume and interpret art. Their works address current and pressing issues, reaffirming the importance of art as a tool for message and reflection — Virginia Monteverde, curator
Vanmechelen presents two video works;
MENACE
2015
Video, sound, 3:17 min
In Menace, Koen Vanmechelen delves into the profound interplay between disturbance, discomfort, and melancholy, creating a visual meditation on the complexities of transformation. The film draws the viewer into an unsettling yet mesmerizing journey, moving from a position of safety to a Bruegelesque vision of a Cosmopolitan Renaissance. This new world, at once terrifying and awe-inspiring, reflects Vanmechelen’s ongoing exploration of hybridity, diversity, and the evolution of life. Like the exhibition Art is the Message, Menace underscores how contemporary art can provoke critical reflection, confronting us with the unsettling realities and possibilities of change in an interconnected age.
Originally created in Vanmechelen’s studio in Hasselt, Belgium, for the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015, the video stands as a testament to his ability to intertwine layers of meaning, merging the personal, the universal, and the mythical. The result is a mysterium tremendum et fascinosum, a compelling encapsulation of humanity’s eternal dance between chaos and creation.
In Transit
1999
Video, sound, 05:16
In Transit offers an intimate glimpse into the liminal space where transformation begins—a place where boundaries blur, and something new emerges. Through the symbolic imagery of a black and white rooster engaged in what appears to be a dance—perhaps a mating ritual, perhaps a fusion—Vanmechelen visualizes the birth of novel ideas and possibilities. The chicken, a recurring motif in his practice, becomes a powerful metaphor for our society: a universal organism shaped by human intervention and history, embodying themes of globalization, diversity, and interconnectedness.
Here, the two roosters are more than animals; they represent contrasting forces—difference and unity—colliding and merging in a process that mirrors the complexities of our world. Their movements invite us to ponder the intricate dance of cultural exchange and coexistence that shapes our collective evolution.
Like the overarching theme of the exhibition, In Transit examines communication and interaction, using the medium of video to probe how differences merge to create unity. Vanmechelen’s work reminds us that evolution—whether biological, cultural, or conceptual—is a constant process of crossing borders and embracing the unfamiliar. This powerful yet poetic piece invites viewers to reflect on the transformative potential of connection, resonating deeply with the exhibition’s call to rethink how we engage with our increasingly interconnected world.
With its bold and inclusive approach, the exhibition ‘Art is the Message’ invites audiences to rethink how we communicate and interact in our increasingly connected age. It is an invitation to explore and engage, letting art, through the powerful language of video, become a key to understanding and navigating the current and future world.
Exhibition Facts
L’arte è il messaggio — Art is the Message
21/12/2024 ➔ 2/03/2025
Museo Galata di Genova, Calata De Mari 1Daily 10 AM to 6 PM
MAIIIM LAB (Spazio Darsena di Art Commission) Calata Andalò Di Negro 15Tuesday through Saturday 3 PM - 7 PM
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