Trovate Ortensia: ICA Milan Exhibition Inspired by Amelia Rosselli

'Trovate Ortensia' is an ambitious exhibition at the Fondazione ICA Milano, curated by the collective Il Colorificio. It showcases works from participants of the Istituto Svizzero di Roma's transdisciplinary residency program, Roma Calling 2019-20. Inspired by Amelia Rosselli, a poet, ethnomusicologist, and multilingual writer, the show reflects on her 1958 political and feminist poem 'La libellula', which adheres to strict formal constraints. The industrial setting of ICA acts as a cage, with artworks striving to transcend boundaries. Urs August Steiner’s 'S01E07' is trapped in an inaccessible space, visible through untreated glass, with smoke seeping from unsealed windows. Nastasia Meyrat’s 'Against All Odds' features delicate blown-glass pigeons on the stairs, challenging stereotypes. Anaïs Wagner’s piece juxtaposes karaoke renditions of Puccini arias, while Real Madrid’s 'Cherries' is a fabric sculpture that will gradually deflate. The exhibition wraps up with Pauline Julier’s 'Cercate Ortensia', a collage of found footage and excerpts from 'La libellula', delving into themes of eroticism and the struggle for escape.