Gallleriapiù (also known as OltreDimore)
Via del Porto 48, Bologna
17 June – 27 June 2015
The exhibition is the final part of a long-term project which started with the artists’ visit of the Ustica Memorial Museum (Museo per la Memoria di Ustica) in Bologna. The museum with the permanent installation of Christian Boltanski is a reminder to the Ustica Massacre (“Strage di Ustica”). After exhibitions in Palermo and now in Bologna the project will end Saturday the 27th of June 2015 with a performance in the Gallleriapiù at 7 p.m.
The Ustica Massacre happened at the 27th of June back in 1980, when the Aerolinee Itavia Flight 870 from Bologna to Palermo crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea, close to the island Ustica. For years the reasons of the crash were not clear and even today, 35 years after, it is not possible to be sure of all circumstances. It seems to be proved that nearby the scene of the incident, there was an aerial battle which involved NATO members and Libyan fighters. The plane was presumable hit by a missile.
Giovanni Gaggia recalls this event in six pencil drawings, showing articles which might be found at the crash site like keys, shoes, cups. Some have as well quotes in it, for example the last registered words of the pilot. The linking element of all paper works is the blood stained imprint of an animal heart. A seventh sheet displays only an imprint. Another element is a parcel, sent from Palermo to Bologna. Furthermore the visitors can listen via headphones to an interview with Daria Bonfietti, president of the victims’ family association. During the exhibition volunteers can leave comments in an exercise book and get a copy of an aquarelle painting showing a nine as symbol for this flight 35 years ago in a DC-9 plane.
