Victor Fotso Nyie
Tesori e meraviglie
Ammirando ciò che resta della cinta muraria medievale costruita per volontà di oderisio i, abate del monastero di san giovanni in venere, centinaia di teste in ceramica dorata delle dimensioni di un palmo si affacciano dalle cavità delle mura interne dando vita a una coreografia di costellazioni
Victor Fotso Nyie, Tesori e meraviglie, 2022, Rocca San Giovanni (CH), Abruzzo. Ph. Andrea Fiordigiglio
Victor Fotso Nyie (Douala, 1990) is a Cameroonian artist working in Italy, in Faenza. The fulcrum of his artistic research is the condition of contemporary African man, alienated and suffering due to an unfinished past of enslavement and exploitation. In the subjects depicted the emotional and spiritual dimension is omnipresent and arouses an immediate visual impact that contrasts with the invisibility and contempt to which the black body is usually subjected outside the African continent. Through the use of primary forms and suggestive vibrations of colours, the works are charged with energies that produce a space-time continuum: thus works that recall the generating force of the earth merge with others that represent the globalized world in a metaphorical key. Upcoming exhibitions: Off Gallery, Bologna, IT (solo show, 2022) Galleria comunale d’Arte, Faenza, IT (solo show, 2022) Pinacoteca Civica, Pieve di Cento, IT (solo show,2022) Istituto italiano della cultura, Paris, FR (2022) Homo Faber, Venice, IT (2022). Recent exhibitions: Rimembranza, Palazzo Turchi di Bagno, Ferrara, IT (solo show, 2021); Mediterranea 19 Young Artists Biennale, School of Waters, Republic of San Marino, SM (2021); Resilienza, Museo MAGA, Gallarate, IT (solo show, 2021); MCZ Territorio, Museo Carlo Zauli, Faenza, IT (solo show , 2021); MAD per Black History Month Florence 2021, Le Murate, Florence, IT (2021); MediTERRAneo – XXVII concorso di ceramica contemporanea, Chiostro del complesso conventuale del Paolotti, Grottaglie, IT (2020); III Biennale d’Arte don Franco Patruno, Museo MAGI ’900, Pieve di Cento (BO), IT (2019); To be going to, P420, Bologna, IT (2019); Il colore interiore, Le strade bianche, Prioria di S. Lorenzo, Montelupo Fiorentino, IT (2019); Banca BCC, Faenza, IT (solo show) (2018); Galleria Artforum, Bologna, IT (2018); Open Tour, Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna, Bologna, IT (2018); Biennale d’Arte Don Patruno, Cento, IT (2017); Terza edizione del Concorso Nazionale 2017 “CeramicAppignano” Convivium, Appignano, IT (2017); ArtSTORIA 5x5x5: 5 film, 5 artisti, 5 poetiche, Cinema Astoria, Ravenna, IT (solo show) (2017).
Rocca San Giovanni is a village of about 2,000 inhabitants in the province of Chieti, north-east of Lanciano. It is part of the initiative Borghi più belli d’Italia. It stands on a rocky hill overlooking the splendid Costa dei trabocchi. The origins of Rocca San Giovanni date back to around the year 1000 thanks to Oderisio I and Oderisio II, abbots of the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, who built the castle, the walls and the three towers to defend the monks and inhabitants of the area from possible attacks. The historic centre dates back to the fourteenth century and is built in a medieval style. Some old photos show that there used to be an isolated tower that was destroyed during the bombing of the Second World War. Attached to the historic centre there is a pointed arched door made of sandstone blocks.The village develops in a herringbone pattern, and used to be entirely surrounded by walls. Today, you can only see the remains of these walls together with a well-preserved castellated tower called “Torrione dei Filippini” which overlooks a tree-lined road that is pleasant to walk down.