Maria Lai's First International Solo Show Opens in Paris

The Italian Cultural Institute in Paris presents 'Suivez le rythme', the first international solo exhibition dedicated to Sardinian artist Maria Lai (1919–2013), curated by Davide Mariani. The show marks the centenary of her birth and runs until January 10, 2020. The title references advice from writer Salvatore Cambosu, who told the young Lai to 'follow the rhythm' when she struggled with reading due to health issues. The exhibition spans her entire career, from 'cuciti libri' (sewn books) to looms, Geografie, environmental interventions, and her masterpiece 'Legarsi alla montagna' (1981). This relational art piece involved tying a ribbon between houses in Ulassai, engaging the entire community. Lai had previously shown in Paris in 1981 at Centre Pompidou and in the 1990s, but this is her first monographic show abroad. The exhibition emphasizes Lai's desire for accessible, democratic art that transcends language. Curator Mariani notes that Lai rejected gender labels, insisting on being recognized simply as an artist. Her 1956 debut at Galleria dell'Obelisco in Rome was praised for having a 'masculine hand,' which she resented. After a decade-long hiatus, she returned in 1971 with a loom exhibition at Galleria Schneider in Rome. The show includes works like 'Libro scalpo' (1990) and aims to introduce Lai's universal, community-oriented art to an international audience.