[D.E.P.O.T. #A.] — Davide Longari

[D.E.P.O.T. #A.] is a media and conceptual exploration of a set of current affairs occurring in both Davide’s personal life while being placed within the context of the various political affairs affecting the globe. While [D.E.P.O.T. #A.] is the continuation of [TRAIDS], the same three groupings of concepts are re-assessed in comparison to each other. While being simultaneously re-assessed, each concept’s revision and re-engagement further allow for adequate space in the exploration of previously visited artworks, allowing for the effectiveness of the new artworks to become visible. The City and Migration, Conflict through Heritage, and Solidarity and Growth are analyzed through strategic and curated positionings of each artefact, artwork, and object throughout the exhibition.

[D.E.P.O.T. #A.] is staged to recreate the concept of both a working studio space as well as a quasi-fantasy archival space, to which both situates the artworks themselves, and the physical, ephemeral, theoretical, and conceptual space for the inter-/intra-relationalities between the works to become evident. Through curatorial action and the phenomena of political positionality, the artworks demanded questions from both their observers and the surrounding objects and artefacts, which require a certain response from each other, to which this exhibition is an exploration, granting these questions and responses to become evident.

The City and Migration

An analysis is established through the acknowledgment of Davide’s travel history and his connection to the various cities that they have lived in. A common theme is derived from this, as a conceptual localization is established; Davide continues to be directly placed within a grander context and set of histories relating to a space and migration practices, and from these contexts and histories, Davide defines both their physical and political positioning of where they are placed in context to a geographic location; i.e., Italy, Palestine, and South Africa.

Conflict through Heritage

By comparing both a defaced Italian flag, a historically important cultural iconographical image (the sette bello), and smaller curatorial gestures through various presentations of [NOTED] digital and handwritten prints, Davide can deduce a set of consequences that are a result of varying migratory practices. Davide continues to establish that their political positioning to the world is further defined by an inability to identify with a specific section of their heritage (a conflict derived from political awareness and positioning) while apprehending and celebrating another section of their heritage. Davide’s positionality ventures to render them as culturally hybrid over one to announce nationalistic identification with their heritage.

This is all placed within the context of how Davide interacts with the relevant spaces in Italy, Palestine, and South Africa. Each space has indicated how certain migration practices and perspectives on life, relationality, and auto-/ self-positionality have affected how Davide can perceive, comprehend, and identify with the same and alternative spaces alongside respective cultures, people, and concepts.

Solidarity and Growth

While taking into context Davide’s migration history and inability to fully identify with their heritage and political positions, Davide can establish their political positions towards a set of events that are currently occurring within Palestine. While Davide has lived within Palestine (Jerusalem; 2007 - 2013), Davide’s activistic practices turn towards a commentary of the incompetency of an internationally recognized institution (the United Nations - UN) in how they are resolving the current crisis and genocide within Gaza, Palestine. A comparison is derived between Davide’s political positioning of their solidarity with Palestine and their sentiments toward the UN through the placement of Molotovs. Various other sentiments are displayed through digital prints made by Davide, alongside handwritten prints made by both Davide and guests observing and interacting with the show about political matters either pertain to the Palestinian issue or other political concepts that affect either the global or South African political climate.

External Link to Video

[TRIADS]