Clément Cogitore's Enigmatic Exhibition at Madre Napoli
Clément Cogitore's exhibition 'Ferdinandea' at the Museo Madre in Naples explores the fleeting island of Ferdinandea, which emerged and disappeared in just six months during the 19th century, sparking a surreal geopolitical dispute. The show blends film, objects, and photographs to evoke the island's mystery, with archival documents presented as artworks that amplify the fantastical. Cogitore uses a painterly approach to film, poetic objecthood, and dynamic photography mounted in glass cases to create moving images, enhanced by enigmatic multilingual inscriptions. The exhibition draws parallels to Arnold Böcklin's 'Isle of the Dead' and probes the intangible psychic realm, suggesting that the earth sends signals to which we must attend. Curated by Diana Gianquitto, the show ran at Madre, Naples in 2022.
Key facts
- Clément Cogitore is French, born 1983.
- Ferdinandea island existed for only six months.
- The exhibition was held at Madre, Naples in 2022.
- The show references Arnold Böcklin's 'Isle of the Dead'.
- Cogitore uses film, objects, and photographs.
- Archival documents are presented as artworks.
- Enigmatic inscriptions in multiple languages appear.
- The exhibition was reviewed by Diana Gianquitto.
Entities
Artists
- Clément Cogitore
- Arnold Böcklin
- Diana Gianquitto
Institutions
- Museo Madre
- Artribune
Locations
- Naples
- Italy