Dario Picariello's 'L'acqua le bagna come il vento le calpesta' at LABS Contemporary Art, Bologna

At LABS Contemporary Art in Bologna, Dario Picariello (born 1991 in Avellino) presents 'L'acqua le bagna come il vento le calpesta', a solo exhibition featuring three large installations from his 'Cicli' series, initiated in 2020. The series draws inspiration from Southern Italian folk song traditions and employs photographic backstage equipment. Picariello's work explores the intersection of past and present, addressing existential themes through photography and textile elements like silk and organza. The exhibition is accompanied by a critical text by Eugenio Viola, head curator of the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá (MAMBO) and upcoming curator of the Italian Pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale. Viola notes Picariello's interest in 'the submerged micro-stories' and his reflection on 'the fragile quality of photography and therefore the fragility of our lives'. Despite the soft colors and delicate fabrics, the works confront physical, verbal, and psychological violence, treated with sensitivity. In 'Cinquantaquattro', inspired by a traditional oral song from the Alto Cosentino Jonio area, workers' figures are covered with sewn photographic paper strips, simultaneously revealing and concealing bodies in a protective gesture. The human figure is paradoxically present through its absence, hidden yet central. Picariello aims to denounce violence with respect for victims, prompting reflection on the loss of victim protection in today's hyperconnected world.