TTOZOI duo uses mold to reinterpret Italian UNESCO sites

The artist duo TTOZOI, composed of Stefano Forgione (born 1969 in Avellino) and Giuseppe Rossi (born 1972 in Naples), has launched 'Genius Loci', a project curated by Gianluca Marziani and sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism. The initiative involves creating artworks directly at three UNESCO sites: the Royal Palace of Caserta (from November 14), the Archaeological Park of Pompeii (December 9–10), and the Colosseum in Rome (January 2018). The artists use a technique of natural mold proliferation on jute fabric, followed by pictorial interventions. They place organic materials (various flours), water, and natural pigments on jute, then enclose the canvas in a sealed case where mold grows, feeding on the organic matter. The artists monitor the spore progression and stop the process when aesthetically pleasing, then clean the canvas and fix it with protective resins. Marziani describes the mold as a 'pure linguistic code' that radicalizes the link between art and nature, referencing archetypal models of Calzolari and Penone. A solo exhibition of the duo is scheduled at the Royal Palace of Caserta from July 1–31, 2018, followed by a second exhibition in a Roman museum venue displaying works created at all three sites.