Andrea Mastrovito's 'Babel' Installation at Assab One Uses 5000 Green Books to Repair Floor
Andrea Mastrovito (Bergamo, 1978; lives in New York) created 'Babel', an environmental installation at Assab One in Milan, opening April 1, 2019, for miart 2019. The work repairs a worn linoleum floor in the former GEA printing factory (1960-2000) using covers from 5000 green books collected via open calls in the neighborhood and globally, in languages from India to America. The book covers were glued onto 1.5mm cardboard and die-cut into puzzle pieces (3.5cm each). The installation references the multicultural history of Via Padova, a district shaped by immigration from southern Italy and the Global South. Assab One, founded by Elena Quarestani, has hosted many Italian artists since 2002. The piece combines architecture, memory, publishing, and cultural exchange.
Key facts
- Andrea Mastrovito created 'Babel' at Assab One, Milan, opening April 1, 2019.
- The installation uses covers from 5000 green books collected globally.
- Books were sourced via open calls in the neighborhood and through social media.
- The covers were glued onto 1.5mm cardboard and die-cut into puzzle pieces (3.5cm each).
- The work repairs a worn linoleum floor in the former GEA printing factory.
- GEA (Grafiche Editoriali Ambrosiane) operated from 1960 to 2000.
- Assab One was founded by Elena Quarestani, editor and journalist.
- The installation is part of miart 2019.
Entities
Artists
- Andrea Mastrovito
Institutions
- Assab One
- GEA (Grafiche Editoriali Ambrosiane)
- miart
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Via Padova
- Via Assab
- Cimiano
- New York
- India
- America