Video and Performance: Historic Italian Archives

In the early 1970s, an interest in live practices became an integral, fundamental aspect of many artists’ work, leading to one of the most interesting moments in the history of twentieth-century art. Performances were held in both public and private spaces, and recorded in various ways by other people in the sector or by the artists themselves. In many cases, however, these actions took place behind closed doors, with a camera as the only witness. While video is an exceptional tool for preserving a record of performative works, this material often takes on a value that goes beyond that of mere documentation, becoming artworks in their own right.
 

Valentina Valentini, who teaches Aesthetics of Contemporary Theater and the Digital Arts at La Sapienza University of Rome, will explore this complex and fascinating relationship in a talk accompanied by a screening of key works made in the ’70s. She will also analyze the archival approach of certain Italian pioneers in video, like two of the most famous figures of that era:  Luciano Giaccari, founder of the Videoteca Giaccari, and Maria Gloria Bicocchi, who spearheaded the art/tapes/22 production center.
 

Valentina Valentini is a Professor of Performing Arts and New Media at La Sapienza University in Rome. She has authored numerous studies of twentieth-century theater history and theory, exploring the overlaps between drama, new media, and the digital arts, and is a contributor to various publications in Italy and abroad (Performance Research, PAJ, Biblioteca Teatrale, Close Up, Imago). From 2011 to 2015, she headed the Centro Teatro Ateneo, La Sapienza’s center for the investigation of the performing arts. She follows theater for Alfabeta2, directs the network www.sciami.com, and was historical advisor for the Incommon project, winner of a 2015 ERC grant.

Cover photo by: Vettor Pisani, L’Eroe da Camera, Galleria L’Attico, Roma, 1972, detail. Videoteca Giaccari. Courtesy Maud Ceriotti