Emiliano Maggi's Water Spell Performance on the Arno During Florence Art Week

During the 2022 Florence Art Week, artist Emiliano Maggi (born Rome, 1977) staged a performance titled Water Spell on the Arno River. Accompanied by the Corteo Storico Fiorentino and I Renaioli, Maggi reinterpreted the mythological figure of the tritone from Ovid's Metamorphoses. Instead of emerging from the water, he traveled along the river on a boat, propelled by drums and trumpets. The bridges Ponte alla Carraia, Ponte Santa Trinità, and Ponte Vecchio became theatrical stages for the audience. The performance referenced Florentine art history, including the Fontana del Nettuno in Piazza della Signoria and Vasari's frescoes in Palazzo Vecchio. Sergio Risaliti, Director of Museo Novecento, noted that Maggi revived ancient Medici court spectacles on the river. For the Rinascimento+ prize, Maggi created six clay sculptures. Curator Caroline Corbetta, who worked with Maggi on the project, announced the final stage: the exhibition Songs and Spells at Museo Stefano Bardini opening December 2.