Antonio Rezza and Flavia Mastrella Win Golden Lion for Theater 2018

The Biennale di Venezia, chaired by Paolo Baratta, awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in Theater 2018 to Antonio Rezza and Flavia Mastrella. The prize was proposed by Antonio Latella, director of the Theater Sector. The motivation states: 'Antonio Rezza is the artist who totally merges, in one body, the two distinctions of actor and performer, distinctions that thanks to him lose every barrier. Flavia Mastrella is the artist who creates habitats and scenic spaces that are art forms that Rezza in turn inhabits and devastates with his stunning adherence.' The duo, who have worked together for thirty years, expressed surprise and joy. Rezza, a performer and author, and Mastrella, an artist and author, discussed their creative process, the role of the body, and their anti-academic stance. They reject the label 'surrealist,' preferring 'hyperrealist,' and aim to capture contemporary rhythm. They jokingly aspire to a Nobel Prize and an honorary degree. The interview covers their views on anticlericalism, the importance of figurative art, and their teaching experiences.