Sam Durant's Carrara Exhibition Confronts Anarchist History and Marble Industry
Sam Durant’s exhibit, ‘Propaganda of the Deed,’ is currently on display at the Centro Arti Plastiche in Carrara, Italy. This showcase, the culmination of two years of work, intertwines themes of anarchist activism with the local marble quarrying industry. It features remarkable pieces like 'Calcium Carbonate,' a bag made from finely ground marble, and 'Black Powder,' which resembles an explosive container. Durant's journey began after his participation in the 14th Sculpture Biennale. The standout feature includes marble busts of influential local anarchists, such as Gino Lucetti and Errico Malatesta, set against a black flag. Created by Telara Studio d'Arte, these works highlight the impact of industrial extraction on Carrara’s landscape.
Key facts
- Sam Durant's exhibition 'Propaganda of the Deed' is at Centro Arti Plastiche in Carrara.
- The project started after Durant participated in Carrara's 14th Sculpture Biennale 'Post-Monument'.
- Key works include 'Calcium Carbonate' and 'Black Powder', both from 2011.
- The exhibition features marble busts of anarchists Gino Lucetti, Renzo Novatore, Marie-Louise Berneri, Carlo Cafiero, Francesco Saverio Merlino, and Errico Malatesta.
- The busts were previously exhibited at Galleria Franco Soffiantino in Turin and MACRO in Rome.
- The busts were made by Telara Studio d'Arte using traditional methods.
- Curator Federica Forti included didactic materials and a workshop reconstruction.
- Carrara's marble quarries have been in use since the second century BC.
Entities
Artists
- Sam Durant
- Gino Lucetti
- Renzo Novatore
- Marie-Louise Berneri
- Carlo Cafiero
- Francesco Saverio Merlino
- Errico Malatesta
- Alberto Meschi
- Carlo Pisacane
Institutions
- Centro Arti Plastiche
- Galleria Franco Soffiantino
- MACRO
- Telara Studio d'Arte
- ArtReview
Locations
- Carrara
- Italy
- Turin
- Rome
- Piazza Gramsci