Gabriella Ciancimino

(b. Palermo, 1978). While completing her Painting at Fine Arts Academy of Palermo (2001-2005) Ciancimino was acquiring knowledge on humanist studies, mainly through history and philosophy. During those years, she practiced journalism together with political activism, which was the beginning of her investigation on Relational Dynamics and communication, still present in her “artistic practice”. For the last 10 years she has chosen a nomadic life, migrating constantly, and participating in various international residency programmes. Among the most important solo shows: “I can’t swim without a sky” at Galleria Gilda Lavia (Rome 2020), “IN LIBERTY WE TRUST”, Manifesta 12 collateral event at Palazzo Ziino (Palermo 2020) “all“All’allerbaggio” at Museo Villa Croce (Genoa 2013). Ciancimino has been contributing with her work in institutional exhibitions such at MMOMA (Moscow, 2016); MACBA, (Barcelona, 2014); Triennale di Milano (2014); La Kunsthalle, Centre d’art contemporain Mulhouse (2013), PAV (Turin, 2013), L’appartement 22 (Rabat, 2010/2012), American Academy in Rome (2009-2013). Among her relevant projects; “Smell in Dialect, a permanent painting installation commissioned by KCHC (Brooklyn, 2019), “Biennale Benin” (Cotonou 2012), “Volume 1 project of “Sentences on the banks and other activities” exhibition project at Darat al Funun (Amman, 2010) and “Working For Change – Project for A Moroccan Pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennale” (2011). “My research focalizes on the concept of relationships transforming artworks in moments of meeting/confrontation among individuals. Starting from the assumption that I strongly believe in the role of art as a catalyst for social change, the ideal testing ground becomes public space. In my recent works, I analyse the relationship between man and plants in Nature by the creation of a landscape that becomes a “place” of reflection and at the same time safeguards the historical memory and collective action. This anthropological study is accompanied by experimental research, which aims to identify dissonant elements to be included in the landscape, thus generating a visual crack that modifies reality, but in an eco-friendly way. So, I have ¬¬¬developed a practice through site-specific actions and collective works using diverse media – as drawing, video, installation and sculpture. My work is an invitation to a dialogue on the concept of resistance and freedom applied to the relation with the environment, experiencing Social Ecology theorized by Murray Bookchin by involving the community in the creation of the work and the transformation of a place in a space where freedom can be experienced, breaking the hierarchy between artist and visitor”.