french artist JR presents his first solo exhibition at galleria continua in italy with his latest film and large-scale installation‘omelia contadina.’ combining public art and photography, the artist has long sought to reinterpret the identity of modern-day cities, questioning their sometimes ambiguous nature. this exhibition presents a short film made with the italian director alice rohrwacher which premiered in the special screenings section of the 77th venice international film festival (2020) and which aims to celebrate traditional rural culture. the opening of the exhibition was accompanied by a performative event by JR and alice rohrwacher, entitled‘processione omélia contadina,’which had set out from the cathedral of san gimignano as a‘funeral filled with life.’
images by JR (unless otherwise stated) | courtesy of the artist and galleria continua
always expressing dignity and respect for others, at the heart of his large murals is the common man and an exploration of his reality — a theme upon which JR elaborates in his galleria continua solo show‘omelia contadina.’ through a series of photographic works made on glass, paper and plaster, along with a site-specific installation which fills and transforms not only the stage but also the entire stalls area of the former cinema and theatre that houses the gallery.
‘omelia contadina’was born out of JR’s interest in the difficulties encountered by a large number of small farmers and inhabitants of rural italy. alice rohrwacher explains the origins of the project:‘last autumn, during a walk on the border between umbria, lazio and tuscany, I told my friend and artist JR of my concerns about the destruction of the agricultural landscape, violated by the intensive monocultures with which major corporations are shaping entire territories. I told him, as the daughter of a beekeeper, of the mass death of insects that such changes bring about… at one point, we stopped at a crossroads: on all sides, uninterrupted rows of hazelnut trees filled the landscape as far as the horizon. as we looked upon this, we commented to each other that it looked like a war cemetery. on the way back we decided — if it looks like a cemetery, we have to hold a funeral. but it must be a funeral full of life!‘
