Christian Fogarolli's 'Satelliti' Explores Stigma and Mental Health in Art
Christian Fogarolli's project 'Satelliti' (2017) is a video, photographic, and installation work based on archival research at the former psychiatric hospital of San Lazzaro in Reggio Emilia, conducted between 2013 and 2017. The work examines the relationship between art and science, focusing on themes of diversity, stigma, and the categorization of deviance. Fogarolli's research uncovered materials from ergotherapy and art therapy activities by patients, which he presents as anthropological traces. The title 'Satelliti' refers to celestial bodies orbiting without contact, metaphorically addressing societal exclusion. The project was commissioned by Fotografia Europea di Reggio Emilia and exhibited at the Padiglione Lombroso, now part of the Museo di Storia della Psichiatria. Fogarolli, born in Trento in 1983, has shown at dOCUMENTA(13), MAXXI, and other international venues. He received the Italian Council award in 2019. The artist discusses how art can serve as a tool for approaching psychological and social issues, though not as a direct solution. The interview is part of the 'HUMANS' video art series curated by Giovanni Viceconte on Artribune TV.
Key facts
- Christian Fogarolli's 'Satelliti' (2017) is a video, photographic, and installation work.
- The project is based on archival research at the former psychiatric hospital of San Lazzaro in Reggio Emilia (2013-2017).
- The work was commissioned by Fotografia Europea di Reggio Emilia in 2017.
- It was exhibited at the Padiglione Lombroso, now Museo di Storia della Psichiatria, part of Reggio Emilia's civic museums.
- The title 'Satelliti' refers to celestial bodies orbiting without contact, symbolizing societal exclusion.
- Fogarolli's research uncovered patient-made objects from ergotherapy and art therapy.
- Fogarolli has shown at dOCUMENTA(13), MAXXI, and other international venues.
- He received the Italian Council award in 2019 from the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities.
- The interview is part of the 'HUMANS' video art series curated by Giovanni Viceconte on Artribune TV.
- Fogarolli believes art can approach psychological issues but not solve them directly.
Entities
Artists
- Christian Fogarolli
- Giovanni Viceconte
Institutions
- Artribune TV
- Ospedale Psichiatrico di San Lazzaro
- Fotografia Europea di Reggio Emilia
- Museo di Storia della Psichiatria
- Musei Civici di Reggio Emilia
- dOCUMENTA(13)
- MAXXI
- Museo di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Rovereto (Mart)
- La Maison Rouge
- Foundation Museum Miniscalchi Erizzo
- de Appel arts centre
- Hunterian Museum
- Gayté Lyrique
- Haus der Kulturen der Welt
- Galleria Civica Mart
- Les Rencontres de la Photographie
- Musée de Grenoble
- College of Physicians and Mütter Museum of Philadelphia
- Futura center for contemporary art
- Boghossian Foundation Villa Empain
- Italian Council
- Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali e per il Turismo
- Musée d’histoire de la Médecine
- MARe Museum of Contemporary Art
- STATE Experience Science
- Löwenbraukunst Art Center
- schwarzescafé Luma Westbau
- Fondazione Gschwandner Reaktor
- GAM Galleria di Arte Moderna di Torino
- MAMM Multimedia Art Museum
Locations
- Reggio Emilia
- Italy
- Trento
- Kassel
- Rovereto
- Paris
- Verona
- Amsterdam
- Glasgow
- Berlin
- Arles
- Rome
- Venice
- Grenoble
- Philadelphia
- Prague
- Brussels
- Bucharest
- Zurich
- Vienna
- Moscow