mrzb: From Fanzine to Riverbank Shanty in Turin
So there's this Italian group called mrzb that started up in Bologna back in 2013. They’ve set up a really cool art space by the Stura River in Turin. What began as a fanzine influenced by Kurt Schwitters and the artist Merzbow has grown into a collaborative project that emphasizes anonymity. In 2020, they built a shack and a caravan on some land from a local retiree named Signor G., who runs a place called Toxic Park. This space is not just for art; it’s a community hub for Romanian families and older gardeners. They’ve worked on projects like 'Weathered Shabby Shabby Brenches: Vernal Festivity of the Four Clari' in February 2020 and 'Ima's Death Bed.' They even curated an exhibition at Associazione Barriera in Turin, showcasing their art alongside the venue's collection. Their focus is on the process of creating art, which often evolves or deteriorates naturally, and their shack is made from reclaimed wardrobes. It symbolizes their commitment to collective identity and a more communal, ritualistic approach to art-making.
Key facts
- mrzb was founded in 2013 in Bologna as a fanzine.
- The collective built a shack and caravan on the Stura River in Turin in 2020.
- Signor G., a local pensioner, granted them the land.
- The area is known as Toxic Park, an informal settlement.
- In February 2020, mrzb performed 'Weathered Shabby Shabby Brenches: Vernal Festivity of the Four Clari', burning four straw figures.
- The shack is made from reclaimed wardrobes and has a double wall for interchangeable panels.
- mrzb curated 'Le Stanze di Mauve' at Associazione Barriera in Turin in 2020, a private invitation-only show.
- The collective rejects individual authorship and works as a collaborative unit.
Entities
Artists
- mrzb
- Kurt Schwitters
- Merzbow
- Pietro Agostoni
- Sergey Kantsedal
- Monia Ben Hamouda
- Giorgio T.
- Jeff Vandermeer
- Edgar Allan Poe
Institutions
- Artribune
- Associazione Barriera
- Macao
- Plague Pro
- Treti Galaxie
- Matteo Mottin
- Ramona Ponzini
Locations
- Turin
- Italy
- Bologna
- Stura River
- Toxic Park
- Superga
- Piazza Castello