ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Mariagrazia Pontorno's cargo ship diary: Everything I Know voyage to Brazil

artist · 2026-05-05

Mariagrazia Pontorno's project Everything I Know, curated by Elena Giulia Abbiatici and Silviana Vassallo with support from Ines Musumeci Greco, documents a cargo ship journey from Dakar to Rio de Janeiro, retracing the 1817 voyage of Archduchess Leopoldina of Austria. The artist traveled with a group of passengers and crew, organizing performances, talks, and listening sessions. Key events included a performance of Cesare Pietroiusti's 'non-functional thought', the raising of all national flags on board (Gran Pavese), a Neptune baptism ceremony at the Equator, and a sideral playlist by Rosa Ciacci. The journey faced delays due to 'African Time', and Pontorno kept a detailed diary published exclusively by Artribune. The project culminated in exhibitions, talks, and debates in Rio de Janeiro, including a meeting at the Jardim Botânico with Joao Orleans, a direct descendant of Leopoldina. Pontorno reflected on the contrast between the rarefied Africa and the saturated South America, and the transformative experience of living on the ship.

Key facts

  • Mariagrazia Pontorno traveled from Dakar to Rio de Janeiro on a cargo ship for the project Everything I Know.
  • The project honors Archduchess Leopoldina of Austria, who traveled to Brazil in 1817.
  • Curated by Elena Giulia Abbiatici and Silviana Vassallo, supported by Ines Musumeci Greco.
  • The journey included performances by Cesare Pietroiusti and a Gran Pavese flag raising.
  • A Neptune baptism ceremony was held at the Equator, where Pontorno was named 'Sardina'.
  • A sideral playlist by Rosa Ciacci was played under the stars.
  • Pontorno kept a diary published by Artribune.
  • The project ended with meetings at the Jardim Botânico in Rio de Janeiro with Leopoldina's descendant Joao Orleans.

Entities

Artists

  • Mariagrazia Pontorno
  • Leopoldina of Austria
  • Cesare Pietroiusti
  • Rosa Ciacci
  • Davide Dormino
  • Valerio Eletti
  • Pietro Gaglianò
  • Christian Caliandro
  • Sara Enrico
  • Valentino Catricalà
  • Davide Rodilosso
  • Tony Colombo
  • Milo Manara
  • Elena Giulia Abbiatici
  • Silviana Vassallo
  • Ines Musumeci Greco
  • Bianco Valente
  • Paolo Cardoni
  • Silvia Bordini
  • Marco Neri
  • Stefano Di Battista
  • Paola Massardi
  • Andrea Di Salvo
  • Elena Giulia Rossi
  • Gloria Kaiser
  • Clement
  • Timothy Morton
  • Giuseppe Raddi
  • Corto Maltese
  • Tristan Bantam
  • Lamarck
  • Charlie Brown
  • Bianco-Valente
  • Gilles Clément
  • Emanuele Scoppola
  • Alex Infascelli
  • Emilio D'Alessandro
  • Stanley Kubrick
  • Zaha Hadid
  • Rä di Martino
  • Giovanni De Angelis
  • Nicky Nicolai
  • Stefano di Battista
  • Angel Moya Garcia
  • Elena Bellantoni
  • Silvia Giambrone
  • Giuseppe Pietroniro
  • Giuseppe Teofilo

Institutions

  • Artribune
  • Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro
  • Museu do Meio Ambiente
  • Grande America (ship)
  • Moleskine Foundation
  • Derive e Approdi
  • RAI
  • Galleria Passaggi

Locations

  • Dakar
  • Senegal
  • Banjul
  • Gambia
  • Freetown
  • Sierra Leone
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Brazil
  • Vitoria
  • Copacabana
  • Ipanema
  • Equator
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Switzerland
  • Mongolia
  • Ghana
  • New Zealand
  • Antwerp
  • Belgium
  • Brussels
  • Tilbury
  • England
  • United Kingdom
  • London
  • Hamburg
  • Germany
  • South America
  • Bay of Biscay
  • Cantabrian Sea
  • River Thames
  • Syracuse
  • Italy
  • Pozzallo
  • Rome
  • Cagliari
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
  • Montevideo
  • Uruguay
  • English Channel
  • Canary Islands
  • Sardinia
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Australia
  • Abu Dhabi
  • Goree
  • Amburgo
  • Napoli
  • Portugal
  • Catania
  • Pisa

Sources