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Francesco De Grandi's 'Succubi e Supplizi' in ArtsLife Series

publication · 2026-05-18

Francesco De Grandi presents his work 'Succubi e Supplizi' as part of ArtsLife's weekly column 'Un’opera a settimana', where artists discuss a single piece. De Grandi recounts finding a 1970s illustrated book at a flea market in Piazza Marina, Palermo, containing neofascist WWII images from the perspective of the defeated. He was struck by a photo of an Ascaro soldier with a Coptic priest during Italy's colonization of Ethiopia and Abyssinia. He drew over the photo, transforming it into a crucifixion scene. The soldier symbolizes military power and the colonized native who adopts the occupier's uniform, likened to Polish kapos in Nazi camps. The priest represents religious power allied with political power, compared to Caiaphas. De Grandi quotes a CSI song critiquing war, peace, and religious/political institutions. The background features a carnivalesque parade of uniforms and robes, with crosses and loudspeakers as propaganda tools. A skull of Adam lies amid garbage, symbolizing humanity's betrayal of nature. The work later became a large painting titled 'Succubi e Supplizi', referencing Antonin Artaud's 'wall of cruelty and pain'.

Key facts

  • Francesco De Grandi created 'Succubi e Supplizi' for ArtsLife's 'Un’opera a settimana' series.
  • The work originated from a 1970s illustrated book found at a flea market in Piazza Marina, Palermo.
  • The book contained neofascist WWII images from the perspective of the defeated.
  • De Grandi used a photo of an Ascaro soldier with a Coptic priest from Italy's colonization of Ethiopia and Abyssinia.
  • He drew over the photo to create a crucifixion scene.
  • The soldier represents military power and the colonized native who adopts the occupier's uniform.
  • The priest symbolizes religious power allied with political power, compared to Caiaphas.
  • The work references Antonin Artaud's 'wall of cruelty and pain'.
  • The background includes a carnivalesque parade, crosses, loudspeakers, and a skull of Adam amid garbage.
  • The piece later became a large painting titled 'Succubi e Supplizi'.

Entities

Artists

  • Francesco De Grandi
  • Antonin Artaud
  • Marcello Maloberti
  • Jacopo Benassi
  • Luigi Presicce
  • Eleonora Roaro

Institutions

  • ArtsLife

Locations

  • Piazza Marina
  • Palermo
  • Italy
  • Ethiopia
  • Abyssinia

Sources