Contemporary art curator, critic, journalist.

"Italy against racism"

Artwork by Maestro Raffaele Ciotola

A beautiful girl with Caucasian features, her hair split in the middle and light-colored eyes. It is Italy’s portrait updated to 2020 by Raffaele Ciotola. As in the stamps, the identification marks are all there: she is towered, she has the insignia of the Italian Republic well visible at the base of her neck, on the background a tricolour flag is slightly moved by the wind. But what wind is blowing over Italy in 2020? A wind that blows from the right and that carries a threatening ray of light, too. Which illuminates and highlights the right side of the young woman, while the left side remains, blackened, in the shadow. Looking carefully, her hair on the left side is certainly darker, or rather black, short and curly. Perhaps this is to show a gradual genetic mutation, African somatic features going into the DNA of the Italian population, which are making the half of her face black. But maybe the painting should be seen as a metaphor for the political polarization that stirs Italian souls in these times: half of the inhabitants wants Italy owned by Italians (the Right) and the other half (the Left) wants a country that welcomes and includes migrants in our society which is globalized nowadays. Above the two factions, however, the title of the painting leaves no doubt: the author takes sides against racism in any case. That racism, confessed and disowned at the same time, which settles in the dark part of Italy, in its bowels, but which too often emerges with violent and absolutely free attacks in the pages of daily news. The artist seems to communicate that racism belongs to everyone and, with this painting, he urges us to identify it and fight against it. Italy must be against racism, against all kinds of racism.

Anna Amendolagine

Independent curator, critic, journalist Rome

Tel. 3400569965

Email: annabelvov@gmail.com

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Anna Amendolagine

An independent contemporary art curator, critic and journalist, Anna Amendolagine lives and works between Rome and Rimini. A former officer in the Cultural Promotion Area at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, abroad she held the position of Director of Italian Cultural Institutes, Cultural Attaché and University Lecturer.

Her curatorial career starts in 2003 and includes the ideation and realization of exhibitions, texts and art catalogs, shows and cultural events in collaboration with public and private Institutions both in Italy and abroad.

Member of the jury or of the Scientific Committee in the following competitions or prizes: 'G.L.G.Byron XVI edition of the CITY OF TERNI 2020 AWARD Competition Exhibition'; V edition of the Contemporary Art Exhibition ARTE E’ DONNA, March 2020; 'Video Art Award 2018: BEYOND SHORT FORMAT', Italy-South Africa; ‘COMEL AWARD 2016’.

Free-lance journalist and press officer she has written numerous articles on art and culture. They were published in various newspapers and magazines, in print and online.

She held the role of European Technical Coordinator for PETRA and LEONARDO, two important cultural projects of the European Union, from 1993 to 1998.

Anna Amendolagine

The artist Raffaele Ciotola was born in Naples on the 17th of October 1964. His loving and receptive family promoted his studies and supported supporting his artistic nature. He obtained the Artistic High School School graduation and got the Master of Arts degree at the state institute of Arts "Filippo Palizzi" in Naples in 1983. Since he was a boy he has been devoting his life to painting in a professional manner; after his debut in 1980 at an exhibition in his hometown, he kept on taking part in other collective and personal exhibitions set up in several Italian cities until 2002 (Piano di Sorrento, St. Anne in Naples, Milano, Viterbo, Milan). He was awarded the gold medal at the National Biennial of Sacred Art in Torre del Greco in 1980 by prof. Mr Franco Girosi, a famous Neaolitan artist of the last century. It was foundamental for his training, the meetings with prof. Mr Franco Girosi and with Mr Luigi Signore, an artist known as one of the best sculptors of cribs in Italy today. He studied music and attended the voice class at the Conservatory of Naples, but the meeting he had in Rome in 1987 with Master Mr Renato Guelfi, opera singer and painter, was so crucial to his professional growth that he started performing as a singer in some Italian theatres (Lecce, Santa Maria di Leuca, Ronciglione, Villa Pignatelli in Naples). He got to obtained some rewards such as: the gold medal in "La Triade" Prize, Palazzo Sormani - Sala del Grechetto - Milano; the diploma of honor at St. Anastasia, Naples. His personal exhibition in Tuscia dates back to 2002 , in this occasion he exhibited for the first time at the Sala Anselmi in Viterbo. His painting style and production are characterized by an intense use of colours and by the chiaroscuro effects conveying a whole creative freedom and a boundless vital energy, without hiding any strong and eloquent emotion, leaving the viewer a hope, a light , the one that leads beyond any solitude and that blurs roles and social conventions. In fact, from the late 90s, his work is more focused on topical issues and feels the effect of his civil commitment against homophobia and discriminatory behaviors, so it became a vehicle to spread some nonconformist messages, even inspired by universal ethical values. In 2003 he created the artistic movement called "Stop Homoph Art" which aims to spread the culture of respect and fight against homophobia. From this battle, "The Madonna of the homosexuals" came to life, it became the emblematic work of his production and will be exhibited for the first time in the foyer of the Mercadante Theater in Naples on the 18th of October 2014. So his landscapes and his dreamlike hermetic metaphysical views of the first period, they have been gradually replaced by works full of reflection and judgment which are well received by public and by critics, attracting the attention of Mr Jean-Louis Cougnon, Chief Excecutive at General Managment of European Parliament. In 2018 he created a second artistic movement '' Rock Art Ciotola ''. It aims to embellish famous people around the world in Rock style, with respect and without making fun of them. The style is to tattoo them especially from the shoulders towards the extremity of the neck to elevate their appearance to the highest aesthetic levels. The work of art '' Italy Against Racism '' dedicated to the fight against '' Racism '' which was appreciated by correspondence by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella.

* Catalog of the international artists of Tuscia - Viterbo - Italy.

* Book '' Raffaele Ciotola and his vitalism '' Ediz. Mondadori, Feltrinelli, IBS, University bookstore .

Email: maestror.c@gmail.com