MAXXI Screens Mariagrazia Pontorno's Film for World Water Day

On March 22, 2024, at 6 PM, the MAXXI museum in Rome will screen Mariagrazia Pontorno's film 'Nobilis Golden Moon' for World Water Day, established by the United Nations. The film centers on the endangered Mediterranean bivalve Pinna nobilis, the largest in the sea, which can exceed 1.5 meters and live over 20 years. Pontorno's video blends ancient traditions of 'maestri del bisso'—artisans working a golden thread from the mollusk's gland—with autobiographical memories and scientific insights from Jose Tena and Jose Rafael Garcia March, scientists at Imedmar in Valencia. It also features stories from Chiara Vigo, the last 'sacerdotessa del bisso' in Sant'Antioco. The screening at the museum's Auditorium will be followed by a conversation with the artist. Co-produced by Acqua Foundation and Maritima01 in collaboration with Imedmar, the film addresses water scarcity, marine pollution, and human consequences. Pontorno created the work during the pandemic, exploring the deep connection between humanity and nature, exemplified by Vigo's quote: 'If I don't follow my aunt Carmelina's lunar calendar, I don't get the result.'