Sicilian Female Collective MaleTinte Fuses Art, Memory, and Social Activism
MaleTinte, a feminist collective founded in 2021 by Lydia Giordano, is based in Sicily and aims to use art for reclaiming public spaces and sparking community dialogue. The name cleverly combines Sicilian dialect words that evoke both danger and vitality. Their first project, a mural titled O-maggio, can be seen on the wall of Teatro Stabile in Catania, blending pop, floral, and surreal art to celebrate nature’s revival. Supported by director Laura Sicignano and the Academy of Fine Arts, they also created a graphic manifesto called La treccia, advocating for Iranian women's rights alongside Rome's WaW collective. Their installation, Di ferro, di rose di ombre, draws from the play Donne in guerra, turning waste into an immersive Garden of Ruins. The group thrives on site-specific work without a fixed studio, featuring members like Irene Catania, Claudia Corona, and more.
Key facts
- MaleTinte was founded in 2021 in Catania, Sicily.
- The collective is led by Lydia Giordano, actress and artist.
- The name MaleTinte is a Sicilian dialect pun meaning both dangerous and lively.
- First mural O-maggio was painted on the Teatro Stabile di Catania facade.
- Mural O-maggio blends pop, floral, and dreamlike styles.
- Laura Sicignano, director of Teatro Stabile, supported the mural.
- The Academy of Fine Arts provided patronage for the mural.
- Graphic manifesto La treccia supports Iranian women's protests.
- La treccia was created in collaboration with Rome's WaW collective.
- Installation Di ferro, di rose di ombre repurposes abandoned theater objects.
- The installation is based on the play Donne in guerra directed by Laura Sicignano.
- MaleTinte has no fixed studio and works site-specifically.
- Members include Irene Catania, Claudia Corona, Uta Dag, Annachiara Di Pietro, Lydia Giordano, Martina Grasso, Francesca Franco, Iolanda Mariella, Marinella Riccobene, Monica Saso, Alice Valenti, Agata Vitale L'Aita, Virginia Caldarella, Ljubiza Mezzatesta, Roberta Normanno, and SinMetro.
Entities
Artists
- Lydia Giordano
- Irene Catania
- Claudia Corona
- Uta Dag
- Annachiara Di Pietro
- Martina Grasso
- Francesca Franco
- Iolanda Mariella
- Marinella Riccobene
- Monica Saso
- Alice Valenti
- Agata Vitale L'Aita
- Virginia Caldarella
- Ljubiza Mezzatesta
- Roberta Normanno
- SinMetro
- Mariella Lo Giudice
Institutions
- MaleTinte
- Teatro Stabile di Catania
- Accademia di Belle Arti
- WaW
Locations
- Catania
- Sicily
- Italy
- Rome