Hot Spot: Aesthetic Activism at Galleria Nazionale in Rome

The Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome presents 'Hot Spot', a group exhibition curated by Gerardo Mosquera and directed by Cristiana Collu, running until February 26, 2023. The show takes its title from Mona Hatoum's 'Hot Spot III' (2009), a neon and iron globe installation that confronts climate change and social conflict. The exhibition's subtitle, 'Caring for a burning world', signals a commitment to hope and care through artistic creativity. Mosquera coined the term 'artivism' to describe the fusion of activism and aesthetic sensibility, selecting 26 artists from different generations and countries, including Ida Applebroog (b. 1929) and Rachel Youn (b. 1994). Works include Pier Paolo Calzolari's glacial panel 'Senza titolo' (1991), Davide Rivalta's protective gorilla sculptures (2022), Gideon Mendel's flood photography, Ibeyi's video 'River' (2015), Sandra Cinto's new mural 'Notti di speranza' (2022), Glenda León's flowering piano 'Objecto magico encontrado, Roma' (2005-2022), Daphne Wright's 'Stallion' (2009), and Michelangelo Pistoletto's 'Cinque tronchi divisione moltiplicazione' (1996). The exhibition emphasizes poetic and symbolic approaches over documentary ones, aiming to inspire imagination and positive change. The Galleria Nazionale will also host a sustainability study day in December 2022.