Stefano Cagol's Dada-inspired performance at Manifesta 11
Italian artist Stefano Cagol presented 'The people are underage' at Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich as part of Manifesta 11, curated by Christian Jankowski. The performance, staged for the centenary of the Dada movement, incorporates a video and sound reworking of a monologue by Gian Maria Volontè from Elio Petri's 1970 film 'Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion'. Cagol's piece explores the tension between personal freedom and collective security, featuring a Russian roulette scene with an Italian police chief. On stage, he prepares coffee with a moka pot and shares a cup with the intimidating officer, before a gun emerges, leading to a dramatic ten-minute confrontation that references Italian culture.
Key facts
- Stefano Cagol performed 'The people are underage' at Cabaret Voltaire, Zurich.
- The performance was part of Manifesta 11, curated by Christian Jankowski.
- It celebrated the centenary of the Dada movement.
- The piece uses a video and sound reworking of Gian Maria Volontè's monologue from Elio Petri's 1970 film.
- The performance explores the balance between personal freedom and collective security.
- Cagol prepared coffee with a moka pot on stage and shared it with a police chief character.
- A gun appears, leading to a tense ten-minute confrontation.
- The work strongly references Italian culture.
Entities
Artists
- Stefano Cagol
- Christian Jankowski
- Gian Maria Volontè
- Elio Petri
Institutions
- Cabaret Voltaire
- Manifesta 11
- Artribune
Locations
- Zurich
- Switzerland