Gian Maria Tosatti's 'My Heart Is Empty Like a Mirror' at Riga's Boļševička Factory

Italian artist Gian Maria Tosatti presented the second episode of his project 'Il mio cuore è vuoto come uno specchio' (My Heart Is Empty Like a Mirror) at the former Boļševička textile factory in Riga, Latvia, as part of the Homo Novus Festival, supported by the European Magic Carpets project. The first episode took place at Palazzo Biscari in Catania as a collateral event of Manifesta 12, curated by Adele Ghirri, Ludovico Pratesi, and Pietro Scammacca, and presented by the association unfold. Tosatti describes the project as a 'cruel portrait of Europe' and its people, addressing existential emptiness and the erosion of democracy. He spent months in Riga, observing the city's deserted appearance and the reclusive life behind windows, which inspired the work. The installation is on view until September 12, 2018. The artist noted that despite the local reception as a Latvian-specific piece, the work addresses a pan-European issue of solitude and abandonment.