ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Lorenzo Marini's 'We Are Letters' Transforms LA Courtyard for 22nd Giornata del Contemporaneo

exhibition · 2026-10-07

As part of the 22nd Giornata del Contemporaneo, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Los Angeles showcases 'We Are Letters. The Architecture of Language,' an installation created by Lorenzo Marini. In the courtyard, nearly one hundred canvases featuring various alphabets hang, enabling viewers to modify the arrangement as the signs intersect. This initiative builds on Marini's TypeArt exploration, showcasing the visual essence of letters. It represents a decade of Marini's artistic journey, shaped by multiple cultures. Marini reflects, «Vedere tutti i miei alfabeti insieme è... come attraversare una piccola antologica della mia ricerca.» Emanuele Amendola and Raffaella Valentini emphasize the project's cultural importance and the necessity for communication, inviting audiences to shift their viewpoints to better appreciate writing's form.

Key facts

  • Lorenzo Marini presents 'We Are Letters. The Architecture of Language' at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Los Angeles.
  • The site-specific installation is held for the 22nd Giornata del Contemporaneo.
  • It is installed in the courtyard of the Istituto's Hilgard Avenue building, under the auspices of the Consolato Generale d'Italia a Los Angeles.
  • Nearly one hundred canvases dedicated to different alphabets are suspended at varying heights, some semi-transparent.
  • The work is part of Marini's TypeArt research, which foregrounds the formal presence of letters before reading.
  • The installation spans about ten years of Marini's work, referencing 1960s hippie culture, science fiction, technology, Middle Eastern traditions, comics, and design.
  • Emanuele Amendola is the director of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura; Raffaella Valentini is Console Generale d'Italia a Los Angeles.
  • The project includes a civic message about communication and peace, and the installation requires viewers to move to experience changing compositions.

Entities

Artists

  • Lorenzo Marini

Institutions

  • Istituto Italiano di Cultura
  • Consolato Generale d'Italia a Los Angeles
  • Giornata del Contemporaneo

Locations

  • Los Angeles
  • United States
  • Hilgard Avenue
  • Italy

Sources

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