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Molise Artist Creates Exhibition to Help Region's Stray Animals (Interview in English and Italian)


Emanuela De Notariis is a dear old friend of mine whose work I've watched over the years devolop and express the very essence of her soul. Her latest project is aimed at helping stray animals throughout Italy, a cause very close to my heart. I talked with her about this unique project. Our interview is posted below in both English and Italian.

Tell me about this association, Ente Nazionale Protezione Animali (ENPA) and this exhibit?
The ENPA is the oldest organization for animal protection in Italy, and was founded in 1871 by the Italian freedom fighter Giuseppe Garibaldi. Headquartered in Rome, it has smaller departments in every Italian region, active in all those sectors aimed to safeguard the wellbeing of animals. It’s a non-profit and therefore doesn't receive and government funding, and is operated through volunteer work. That’s why the "AnimalHumāna" project was born. It’s a series of art exhibitions and events in central-southern Italy that consists of 12 works presented by the artists, printed on an elegant calendar, which is sold to raise funds for Campobasso’s section of ENPA in the Molise region of Italy. That way, you can own original art prints while making a donation to help animals in need.

Why did you want to be involved with this exhibit?
I love animals and I wanted to help the volunteers in raising funds, so I thought: “Why not put art and animals together?” I like the idea of an object that will interact with people’s daily life, bringing art and beauty into their homes, and also giving that feeling satisfaction in doing something good. All the money raised will help in taking care of injured and abandoned animals, above all cats and dogs, in the region of Molise.


What is your role as an organizer?
I had the idea that was accepted and supported with enthusiasm by the local and national ENPA. I just did my usual job, but this time for a different purpose. I selected the artists, managed the calendar’s design with a graphic designer and organized events to promote the calendar. We thought about various different events, from exhibitions to parties, aiming to expand the usual target of ENPA supporters...that’s why we chose the vehicle of art. Art connects and involves. That’s a project made with love!

Tell me about your work that is featured in the exhibit.
My work, as well as that of the other two artists Luigi Mastrangelo (Italy) and Sergio Mora (Spain), is based on the idea of harmony between humans and animals. I work on the research of inner equilibrium, and I often create hybrids. I demonstrate the “animal side” as reading into our emotions and feelings – digging through the structures we put over them, and liberating the imagination. I created a painting for the exhibition interpreting Jodorowsky’s Marseille Tarot of “The World." The original tarot is the representation of realization, of achievement of completeness. I painted it my way, adding animal elements: completeness is reached in hybridization with an animal world. The human being is in harmony with its soul and its aspirations as earth, water and air beings. My art is a fiction search for real poetry and for harmony of opposites, bringing together concepts like human/animal, levity/complexity, happiness/pain. I intend art as a gift for souls.

Is there anything special you’d like people to know about the mission of the exhibit?
I want to tell people to respect life in its many forms. Trying to care about the more fragile beings helps us to be better humans. That means respecting not only animals, but also ill and deceased persons. There are still too many people who abandon or mistreat pets, and we have to react to that. If you’re able to make the connection, it means you’re using the good side of your soul.

How long will the exhibit last?
The calendar will be available for purchase until May. The events will continue day by day without an exact deadline, so we’ll maybe have a third exhibition or event soon. You can follow us and our events on the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/animalhumana


VERSIONE ITALIANA:

Cosa sono esattamente l’ Ente Nazionale Protezione Animali e questa mostra?
L’ENPA è la più antica e la più grande organizzazione per la protezione e la tutela degli animali d’Italia, fondata nel 1871 da Giuseppe Garibaldi. È organizzata in sezioni regionali facenti capo alla sede di Roma. Non ha scopo di lucro e non percepisce finanziamenti governativi, ma opera attraverso volontariato e donazioni, in tutti i settori coinvolti nella salvaguardia e nel benessere degli animali.

Ecco perchè è nato il progetto?
"AnimalHumāna": si tratta di una serie di mostre e di eventi che realizziamo nella regione Molise, nei quali l’arte sconfina dalle pareti dei luoghi espositivi. Oltre alle opere classicamente esposte, in ogni evento presentiamo 12 dipinti dei tre artisti coinvolti, stampati in un elegante calendario che viene venduto per raccogliere fondi per l’ENPA - sezione di Campobasso. Per dodici mesi d’arte! In tal modo si possono portare a casa stampe d’arte ad una cifra irrisoria... niente male, no?

Perchè hai scelto di essere coinvolta nel progetto della mostra?
È un progetto realizzato con amore e per amore. Ho pensato di unire un progetto artistico all’aiuto ai quattro zampe conciliando due passioni. Mi piace molto l’idea di un oggetto che interagisca con la vita quotidiana delle persone, portando nelle loro case un po’ di bellezza e quella felice sensazione che deriva dal fare qualcosa di buono. Il ricavato della vendita dei calendari aiuterà l’ente a prendersi cura degli animali abbandonati, feriti e maltrattati, soprattutto cani e gatti, nel territorio molisano di competenza.

Qual è il tuo ruolo nell’organizzazione?
Ho avuto l’idea del calendario e degli eventi, che è stata subito accolta e supportata con molto entusiasmo dall’ENPA locale e dall’ENPA di Roma. Ho semplicemente svolto il mio lavoro di artista e curatrice, ma con uno scopo diverso dal solito. Mi sono occupata della scelta degli artisti e delle opere, della promozione e dell’organizzazione degli eventi e del calendario stesso, della cura delle mostre. Si è trattato anche un bel lavoro di equipe, che ha riscosso grande partecipazione nelle varie differenti occasioni, dalle mostre alle feste, in cui abbiamo raggiunto l’obiettivo di ampliare il più possibile la tipologia di sostenitori dell’ENPA: ecco perchè la scelta dell’arte. L’arte unisce e coinvolge. È un progetto realizzato con amore!


Parlami dei tuoi lavori presenti nella mostra.
Le mie opere, così come quelle degli altri due artisti coinvolti Luigi Mastrangelo (Italia) e Sergio Mora (Spagna), si basano sull’idea di un connubio armonioso tra esseri umani e animali. Io lavoro sulla ricerca costante di un equilibrio interiore e spesso dipingo e disegno ibridi. Ascoltare il “lato animale” è per me saper leggere le emozioni e i sentimenti radicati nel profondo dell’io, scavando nelle sovrastrutture che vi costruiamo sopra e liberando l’immaginario. Per "AnimalHumāna" ho dipinto una mia versione della carta dei tarocchi marsigliesi di Jodorowsky “il Mondo”. Il tarocco originale simboleggia il raggiungimento della realizzazione e della completezza. Io vi ho aggiunto elementi animali: la completezza si raggiunge nell’ibridazione con il mondo animale. L’essere umano, nel mio tarocco, è in relazione armoniosa con il proprio spirito, le proprie aspirazioni e gli esseri di terra, acqua, aria. La mia arte è finzione che cerca la verità nella poesia e l’armonia di concetti opposti, come umano/animale, leggerezza/complessità, felicità e dolore... L’arte è per me un dono per lo spirito.

 C’è qualcosa di particolare che vorresti far sapere?
Vorrei solo dire a tutti di cercare di rispettare la vita nelle sue molteplici forme. Aver cura degli esseri più fragili aiuta ad essere persone migliori. Non mi riferisco soltanto agli animali, ma anche alla fragilità di persone con disagi o malattie. Reagire a ciò ed educare sé e gli altri al rispetto e alla cura, significa allenare il lato migliore nel proprio animo.

Quanto durerà?
Il calendario sarà in vendita fino a Maggio, ma gli eventi crescono giorno dopo giorno, non abbiamo prefissato un termine, quindi potremmo anche organizzare una terza mostra. Chi vuole può seguirci via facebook: https://www.facebook.com/animalhumana

Per conoscere di più l’ENPA:
www.enpacb.it. www.enpa.it

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