If we considered human beings as guests of the Planet Earth, perhaps we would be more thoughtful and respectful towards the environment. This was the reflection that the American artist Christian Holstad wanted to pass with his latest creation – Consider yourself as a guest (Cornucopia), which was made entirely of plastic waste and promoted by FPT Industrial in ‘the Floating City’.
The installation of more than four meters high was inspired by a current and important theme: protecting sea life from plastic waste. As the main sponsor of the Italian Pavilion at the 58^th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, FPT Industrial presented the work of art in Venice highlighting its commitment to sustainability and its appreciation to the art world.
Invited by the curator of the Italian Pavilion, Milovan Farronato, Christian Holstad chose a cornucopia, ancient symbol of luck and abundance, as the object for this piece, transforming the classical meaning of this image into a new negative sense of excess, instantly raising awareness to the sea pollution problem.
“A past neighbor had a sign on their door which read "Consider yourself a guest". I walked past it each day for years and it became an unintended mantra”, said Christian Holstad. “Our dependence on plastic is not sustainable. Its effects are swelling into continents in our waters. Consider yourself as a guest (Cornucopia) is a reflection of our impact on the planet and our consumptive roles within the growing plastic mass.”
The artwork called people’s attention on the banks of the Canal Grande in front of the Ca’Foscari University of Venice from May 9 to 11 and can now be seen at the courtyard of the university until June 12, 2019.
Italian Pavilion
At the Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, the Italian Pavilion stands out inspired by “La sfida al labirinto”, essay written by Italo Calvino, which proposes a cultural work open to all possible languages and that is co-responsible in the construction of a world that lost its traditional points of reference.
Neither Nor: The challenge to the Labyrinth (Né altra né questa: La sfida al Labirinto) is not a linear exhibition, offering visitors multiple interpretations and choices of routes, providing them with uncertainty as part of the experience. Three Italian artists take part of the exhibition: Enrico David, Chiara Fumai and Liliana Moro. The Italian Pavilion will be open to the public until November 24, 2019.