Marinella Senatore
The work of Berlin based artist Marinella Senatore (Italy, 1977) is characterized by public participation. The idea is to foster the creative power
of a crowd, initiating a dialogue between history, culture and social structures. Senatore’s work is to be experienced by everyone, inviting us to
create a participative work in which everybody can play a role. She makes neo‐realistic video, installations, photos and drawings that
represent social realities through experimental modes of storytelling. Performances refer back to ideas in paintings, drawings prove
themselves to be preliminary studies for videos and films, and the props become installations in their own right. Characterized by a non‐linear,
cyclical logic, Senatore’s theatrical and cinematic stagings consist of multiple layers of images; she works within a cinematographic tradition
that combines the documentary style with fiction. Her last work, ROSAS (2012) an Opera for the screen, involved 20.000 citizens.
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Her work has been exhibited widely throughout the Italy and abroad, including 54 Biennial of Venice Illuminations, Goteborg Biennial,
Liverpool Biennial, Moscow Biennial, Havana Biennial, Dublin Contemporary, Macro Museum Rome, Riso Museum Palermo, Madre Museum
Naples, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam; Moderna Museet Stockolm, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. In 2011 She won
the fellowship of American Academy in Rome; in 2010 the New York Prize, the XXI Bellisario Award, Gotham Prize and Terna Prize; in 2009
She was recipient of Dena Foundation Fellowship; in 2011 she was a finalist of Furla Art Award
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Arte(e(critica,(Flash(Art(International,(Frieze,(L'Uomo(Vogue,(La(Repubblica,(Glamour,(Marie(Claire,(The(Prague(Post,(D(Repubblica,(L’Espresso,(Exibart,(Art(Tribune,(Il(Corriere(
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Upcoming Solo Exhibitions
Marinella Senatore, Castello di Rivoli, IT
2^Biennial de Montevideo, Uruguay
Piccolo Caos, Musei Civici, Cagliari, IT
A Theatre Cycle, Nomas Foundation/Teatro Valle occupato, Rome, IT
Upcoming Group Exhibitions
Contour ‐ Biennial of Moving Image, curated by J. Fabricius, B
Göteborg Biennial, curated by K.Gregos, Göteborg, S
Upcoming Video Screenings
Whitechapel, Londra, UK
Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo, IT
Para/Site, Hong Kong, CP
Istanbul Modern, Istanbul, TR
Ballroom Marfa, Texas, US
City Gallery, Wellington, New Zeland, NZ
Fundacion Proa, Buenos Aires, RA
San Art, Ho Chi Minh City, VNN
Belgrade Cultural Centre, Belgrade, SRB
Cinematheque de Tangier, TN
New Media Center, Haifa, IL
Neuer Berliner Kunstverei Video‐Forum, Berlin, D
Centre for Contemporary Arts Afghanistan CCAA, Kabul, AFG
Centre for Art and Film, Sandnes, N
Solo Exhibitions
2013
Gotham Prize, Italian Institute, New York, US
2012
ROSAS, Part Two, Peres Projects, Berlin, DE
ROSAS, Part One, Peres Projects, Berlin, DE
ROSAS: The Attic, Quad, Derby, UK
ROSAS, ViaFarini,Milano, IT
Abierto por obras: Rosas, Matadero, Madrid, ES
Intermezzo Oper, Kunstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, DE
2011
Roommates, MACRO, Roma, IT
Furla Art Award, curated by A. Cramerotti, Palazzo Pepoli, Bologna, IT
Group Exhibitions
2013
The 338 Hour Cineclub, Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation, Turin, IT
Open Form, curated by M.Folkidis, Athens, EL
How to tell a Story, Depo, Istanbul, TR
Benzine, curated by C.Perrella, Triennale, Milan, IT
2012
Offen Auf AEG, Nürnberg, DE
Mission Afterviews, Muzeon Arts Park, Moscow, RUS
Where is the here if the here is in there?, Pallas Projects/Studios, Dublin, EI
Moscow III international Biennale for Young Art ‐ Under A Tinsel Sun , RUS
11th Havana Biennial, Art practices and social imaginaries, La Havana, CU
Visible Award, Serpentine Gallery, London, UK
Mission Afterviews, Victoria Theater, San Francisco, US
2011
54th Venice Biennal, ILLUMInations, curated by B.Curiger, Venice, IT
Dublin Contemporary, Dublin, IE
The power to host, ISCP, New York, US
Sotto quale cielo, Riso Museum, Palermo, IT
2010
SI - Sindrome Italiana, Magasin Centre National d’Art Contemporain, Grenoble, FR
Videoreport Italia, Galleria Comunale d’Arte Contemporanea di Monfalcone, IT
Neither from, nor towards…, Pavilion of Art, Zagreb, HR
Persona in meno, curated by C. Fitzpatrick, Sandretto Foundation, IT
Sonrisas y lagrimas, Museo Naval de Ferrol, A Coruña, ES
2009
The Italian sight, curated by L. Barreca, Espacio Enter, TEA Tenerife ES
Italics, curated by F.Bonami, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, US
Emerging talents, curated by C.Corbetta, CCCS Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, IT
2008
Italics, curated by F.Bonami, Palazzo Grassi, Venice, IT
The Rocky Mountain People Show, curated by F.Cavallucci, Galleria Civica, Trento, IT
2007
Carte Blanche, curated by C. Alemani, Elizabeth Dee Gallery, New York, US
Guestroom, curated by P. Pulles, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, NL
Vesuvius, curated by G.Del Vecchio, Moderna Museet, Stockholm, SW
Art Radio Live, PS.1 New York US, PAN Naples IT
2006
Neverending Cinema, Galleria Civica d'Arte Contemporanea, Trento, IT
From the Volcano, curated by G.Del Vecchio, S.Palumbo ‐ 798 Space, Beijing, CN
2005
The 2nd International Videoart Biennal in Israel, Tel Aviv, IL
The Aesthetics of Resistance, Ratti Foundation, Como, IT
Collaudi, curated by M.Altavilla, D.Lotta, GAM/Spazio Aperto, Bologna, IT
Selected Video Screenings
2013
Quad, Derby UK
Matadero, Madrid, E
Italian Institute, Istanbul, TR
2012
Kunsthaus Graz, AU
La Casa Encendida, Madrid, ES
2011
98 Weeks Project, Beirut, LB
Milano Filmfestival, Milano, IT
2010
White Box, New York, US CCA, Tel Aviv, IL
Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo, Madrid, ES
Internationale Kurzfilmtage, Oberhausen, DE
Rencontres Internationales Paris/Berlin/Madrid, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, DE
La Friche La Belle de Mai, Marseille, FR
2009
Rencontres Internationales Paris/Berlin/Madrid, Espace Consultation Documentaire, Paris, FR
La Casa Encendida, Madrid, ES
2008
Italian Institute, New York, US
Sala Rekalde, Bilbao, ES
Italian Institute, Belgrade, RS
2004
Kunsthalle, Basel, CH
Galleria Comunale d'Arte Contemporanea, Monfalcone, IT
2003
20. Kasseler, Dokumentarfilm und Videofest, Kassel, DE
2001
58^ Mostra d'arte Cinematografica di Venezia, IT
Residence Programs
2012
American Academy, Rome, IT
Via Farini, Milan, IT
2011
Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, DE
2010
ISCP, Brooklyn, New York, US
2009
ArtOmi, Omi International Center, Ghent, US
2005
Ratti Foundation, Como, IT
Awards
2013
Premio Maretti (shortlisted)
2012
Affiliated Fellowship, American Academy in Rome
Visible Award (shortlisted)
2011
Premio Terna, Special Jury Prize
XXIII Marisa Bellisario Prize
Furla art award VIII edition, (shortlisted)
DE.MO./Movin'UP
Gotham Prize, New York
2010
New York Prize, Italian Academy at Columbia Univeristy, New York
2009
Scholarship of Dena Foundation for Contemporary Art, Paris
ROSAS, 2012
(Opera in 3 acts, with the participation of 20.000 citizens of Berlin, Derby and Madrid)
23 min, 35 min, 30 min
3 HD videos on Blu-Ray Disc
Produced by Kunstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin (D), Quad, Derby (UK), Matadero, Madrid (E)
1: Perfect Lives, the first chapter of the opera trilogy, was produced in Berlin during Senatore’s residency at the Kunstlerhaus Bethanien. She
collaborated with local newspapers and radio stations to reach out to schools, actors, dancers, professionals and amateurs, as well as
hundreds of groups and associations in the German capital, which included an orchestra of retired transportation workers, activists, workers
union, illiterate people, students and community choirs, participated in writing the Libretto as well as producing and directing the final film work.
2. After more than 55 public talks and inviting local artists to create web platforms in order to reach the community, the second chapter, The
Attic was made in Derby (UK): more than 15.000 residents participated in free workshops led by local professionals, teachers and technicians
in order to prepare for different roles required in the creation of the Opera. The local community was engaged in a variety of different activities
ranging from crewmembers and actors to cooks and flash mob participants.
3. Finally at Matadero in Madrid, Spain, Senatore produced the final chapter of the trilogy entitled Public Opinion Descends Upon The
Demonstrators. This time the public was able to witness the movie making process in its entirety. From screenwriting sessions involving
hundreds of no-professional writers to production, the entire process was on view to museum visitors. Senatore facilitated travel for
participants from each chapter of the trilogy to visit the next locations in order to increase the dialogue amongst them. The trilogy’s four
languages: German, English, Spanish and British Sign Language. Senatore left Derby and Madrid set behind along with all of the technical
equipment for free, allowing the local community members (amateur photographers, film makers, dancers, artists, scholar, activists and
associations) to use this set for their own projects and meetings.
PICCOLO CAOS, 2013
25 min
HD videos on Blu-Ray Disc
Inspired by the work of Pina Bausch, Piccolo Caos (Little Chaos) is a melodramma for the screen, public participation project, which includes
an educational phase, the involvement of different groups, associations, individuals and communities and a live performance in collaboration
with Foundation Teatro Lirico and Teatro Massimo of Cagliari.
NUI SIMU (That’s us), 2010
15 min
Single channel HD video on Blu-Ray Disc
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Produced by Riso Museum, Palermo (I), showed at 54 Biennial of Venice, ILLUMINATIONS
Written by more than 30 retired miners from the city of Enna (Sicily, Italy), in collaboration with students from University of Catani, the project
was a platform provided by the artist where the public became non-professional actor, screenwriter, costume designer, set designer, camera
operator, etc. in an atmosphere of on going workshop. The entire city were involved: people shared their skills (i.e. bakers of the city offered
catering for free for the entire crew, taxi drivers provided transportations, local hairdressers prepared actors everyday for the shooting) or
teaching each other, negotiation the role they wanted into the production.
ESTMAN RADIO DRAMA, 2011
40 min
Installation: sound, wood, mixed media
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Produced by 54 Biennial of Venice, ILLUMINATIONS
Written and performed by 500 former factory workers from Marghera in collaboration with students from the Venetian Universities, the radio
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play in 4 chapters was broadcasted by 95 national radios from north to south of Italy, during the 54 Biennial of Venice period. Students of the
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama of Glasgow, UK performed the English version.
VARIATIONS, 2011
21 min
Single channel video DVD
Knocking at their doors for 1 month, Senatore involved more than 300 residents of the Lower East Side neighbourhood of NYC, ranging from
age eight to seventy, in writing and filming the video: she also invited neighbourhood associations, volunteers, community centres, bloggers,
weekly magazines, local newspapers, radio and web TVs. Script sessions were carried out within the space of the theatre of the New Museum
and joined by more than 80 people each session.
SPEAK EASY, 2009
15:30 min
Single channel musical on DVD
Produced by 1200 citizens of Madrid (E)
The community of Madrid took an active part in the creative process since its very first stages: the original screenplay was conceived and
written by an entire suburb of the city. Hundreds of students from University Complutense of Madrid worked with retired carpenters, local
seamstresses, craftsmen and professional actors building the set, making costumes and preparing themselves for each role of the production.
Radios, free press, social networks and “words of mouth” advertised about the “1 € para ser Productor” fundraising campaign, joined by more
than 1200 citizens who became the real producers of the movie, participating in creative decisions.
HOW DO U KILL THE CHEMIST, 2009
8 min
Video on iPod
Filmed between New Jersey, New York City and Hudson, How Do U Kill The Chemist portrays a series of real events happened during the
‘50s in the New York State. Hudson residents were involved in the project, and amongst the participants were groups of rappers from Harlem
(NYC) who took part as both actors and screenplay writers.
AVAILABLE WORKS
TRAVELERS’ HANDBOOK, 2007
Installation: HDV video on DVD 25 min, 4 headphones, 4 different sound
Produced by Madre Museum (IT)
ALL THE THINGS I NEED 2006
16 min
DVcam musical video on DVD
Produced by Galleria Civica of Trento (IT)
GENERATION, 2009
Lambda print on aluminium
cm 70 x 100
OWN DOUBLE ENTRY, 2009
Lambda print on aluminium
cm 70 x 100
ROUTE #2, 2010
Installation: wood, spot light 300W, mixed media
mt 2 x 2,20; mt 1,30 x 2,20
16°, 2007
Installation: wood bridge, 2 Fresnel lamps 500W, mixed media
mt 16 x 1,50 x 1,20 (max h)
ELECTRIC THEATRE, 2011
Installation: wood, drawings, photographs, sound, overhead projectors, mixed media
Produced by Macro Museum (IT)