Gina Pane's Wounds: Body Art in Milan

A Milan exhibition at Galleria Osart showcases works by Gina Pane (1939–1990), a leading figure in Body Art. The show features Constatazioni (photographic sequences of her most famous Actions) and Partizioni (wall installations) produced between 1968 and 1988. The unifying theme is the open wounds Pane inflicted on herself during her Actions, symbolizing conceptual issues. Self-harm is used as a creative tool: for instance, in Action mélancolique, which explores couple relationships, the wound near the ear alludes to van Gogh's gesture. Pane stated that the Action allows others to become aware of conflict and move from isolation to unity. Self-harm also serves to control inner suffering through physical pain. The largest and most recent work, Le Son de F. L'homme indien en prière, references Saint Francis of Assisi and evokes the Christian cross, symbolizing wounds inflicted by man upon man.