The Andrea Ingenito Contemporary Art Gallery is delighted to announce the solo exhibition of Trallallà entitled “MEMENTO VIVI”, that will be held from 24 April to 10 June 2024 (opening on Wednesday, 24 April from 18:30 to 20:30) in collaboration with Basilica di San Giovanni Maggiore, Artenhope APS Association, Arcadia – progetti d’arte and with the extraordinary participation of Serpone Arredi Sacri. The exhibition – curated by Andrea Ingenito – draws a unique path through the deepest themes suggested by the spirit of the place.
The exhibition is enriched by a critical text written by Olga di Vettimo – art critic – who, with the famous phrase by Matilde Serao, writes:
“Parthenope is not dead – Trallallà surely believes this statement and, by recalling the Mermaid par excellence in the guise of his contemporary sisters, he is turning the founding myth into legend and the legend in a desirable pop icon, belonging to the ‘street culture system’ of the eternal Naples.”
Basilica San Giovanni Maggiore has its origins in the dawn of city development, from the legend of the mermaid Parthenope and the first Greek settlements, passing through the Constantinian and Byzantine, Baroque and nineteenth-century transformations.
Its three ancient hypogea had been using until the nineteenth century for the burial of the dead. They were the largest burial place in the entire historic center, where the cult of the dead was widespread and where people prayed for the remains of nameless poor too, so that their souls would leave Purgatory to reach Paradise.
The legend narrates that the Basilica is linked to the myth of the Siren Parthenope who, according to ancient legends, had her burial here. As evidence, in the Basilica, there have been for centuries two very ancient tombstones (some undeciphered), that tell us the myth of the foundation of Naples.
The concept of “MEMENTO VIVI” – an invitation to live fully, to celebrate every moment of life and to pursue good with determination – is the main theme of the exhibition. Instead of “MEMENTO MORI”, which alludes to the afterlife, “MEMENTO VIVI” emphasises earthly life, to be enjoyed fully.
The exhibition will unfold around several central subjects, including the evocative figure of the mermaid who, with her roots in ancient legends and mythologies, embodies a multitude of meanings: from ferryman of souls in the afterworld to fatal seductress who lures sailors with her hypnotic singing. Trallallà explores this thousand-year-old legendary figure, bringing to light the multiple interpretations of her through works that grab the imagination but also stimulate reflection.
Another theme addressed by the artist is Purgatory, represented with iconography of fire and flames that envelop the souls in purification. This element, recurring in Trallallà’s work, finds a natural home in the hypogeum of San Giovanni Maggiore, that has been the scene of the cult of the souls in Purgatory for decades.
The heart of the exhibition will be the six precious banners created by the artist with the Serpone company, an ancient manufacturer of sacred furnishings. These banners, adorned with images of mermaids, will be placed in the side niches of the hypogeum, in a path poised between the sacred and the profane.
A series of wooden figures representative of mermaids will be placed on the pillars of the hypogeum, becoming votive images. Some of mermaids tails will sink into the sacred ground, suggesting a descent to Hades.
“MEMENTO VIVI” is so much more than a simple artistic exhibition: it is an invitation to reflect on life, death and the ultimate meaning of human existence.
