Nico Vascellari's MELMA Opens at Forte Belvedere, Florence

Nico Vascellari, born in Vittorio Veneto in 1976 and recognized internationally as a leading figure in performance art, presents his exhibition MELMA at Forte Belvedere in Florence, curated by Sergio Risaliti, director of the Museo Novecento. The show occupies both interior and exterior spaces of the fortress, featuring sculptures, collages, and videos that reflect Vascellari's post-media approach. Works like the aluminum Horse Power series (2003) explore hybridization of human, nature, and machine, echoing contemporary Italian sculpture such as Giulia Cenci's. The exhibition builds anticipation for a performance titled Alessio scheduled for October 3 at Palazzo Vecchio, which Vascellari frames as a "time capsule" set to reveal itself when it is too late. The article discusses the evolution of performance art, contrasting early pioneers like Marina Abramović, Vito Acconci, Gina Pane, and Joseph Beuys, who measured time to achieve perfect spontaneity, with contemporary artists like Vascellari who emphasize physical traces and suspense leading to the vernissage. Vascellari's work draws on biographical references (Bus de la Lum, 2011) and his own energetic physicality, positioning him within a lineage of performative art while rebelling against sophistication of gesture.