Day 12

Today I have been very good working on all of my little projects.

My main aim to day was to write my 10 minute talk which is going to be on Boccioni. As much as I really love ‘Unique Form of Continuity in Space’ and most of the Futurists other work, I have been reminded why I really don’t like Futurism as a movement.

In their manifesto they claim that they want to portray and glorify the future (although I’m sure you got that from the name) so they were all about speed, noise, machines and cities.

Nothing wrong with looking towards the future, is there?

Well unfortunately they were Fascists so the rest of their manifesto is a bit weird

“We intend to sing the love of danger, the habit of energy and fearlessness.”

“We will glorify war - the world's only hygiene - militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of freedom-bringers, beautiful ideas worth dying for, and scorn for woman.” (This was Mussolini’s favourite line)

“We will destroy the museums, libraries, academies of every kind, will fight moralism, feminism, every opportunistic or utilitarian cowardice.”

“Art, in fact, can be nothing but violence, cruelty, and injustice.”

The Italian Futurist movement only lasted seven years because they all fell out with each other.

Here are my favourite Futurist from Peggy’s collection and The Matteoli Collection

Pursuit - Carlo Carrà 1915

Interventionist Demonstration (Patriotic Holiday - Freeword Painting) - Carlo Carrà 1914

Abstract Speed + Sound - Giacomo Balla 1913-14

Materia - Umberto Boccioni 1912

Sea = Dancer - Gino Severini 1914

Can you see the dancer?

Because I had been so good in doing my work all day I treated myself by going out in the evening :)

Me and Holly were planning on seeing the last film of the Venice Film Festival in Campo San Paul but it turned out to be a German film with Italian subtitles so we decided to just go and drink insted.

Velina and Noa joined us later and we sat on the dock looking at the Rialto Bridge whilst drinking our Campari spritz.

It was beautiful.