Giulia Andreani's Feminist Monochrome at Collezione Maramotti

Giulia Andreani (b. 1985, Venice, lives in Paris) presents a solo exhibition titled "L'improduttiva" at Collezione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia, featuring monochrome Payne's gray paintings derived from archival research. The artist, who defines herself as a feminist painter-researcher, delved into the Vaiani fund at the local Biblioteca Panizzi, the archive of Max Mara (the company that founded the collection), and other local archives to create works tied to the territory. Her paintings, resembling collages or photomontages, focus on forgotten historical figures and events, particularly women. The exhibition includes the titular work "L'improduttiva," set in a sewing school run by Giulia Maramotti (mother of Max Mara's founder), depicting women at sewing machines with one defiantly meeting the viewer's gaze, addressing female emancipation. Other subjects include inmates of the former psychiatric hospital San Lazzaro, actress Maria Melato set against a seascape with military aircraft from the Officine Reggiane factories, and politician Nilde Iotti in a painting titled "La politica." A separate room evokes an intimate family album inspired by George Orwell, his wife, and adopted son. The show also displays preparatory watercolor sketches alongside the final paintings.