The talk on 16th of November:
A conversation with Grossi Maglioni (exhibiting artists), Clovis Maillet (fellow at the Villa Medici, French Academy in Rome), Lex Brown, and Sheila Pepe (Rome Prize fellows at the American Academy in Rome). Curated and moderated by Dorothée Dupuis.
The event will begin with a brief presentation (in English and Italian) by the artists on their respective research, followed by a discussion that will expand on themes explored in Grossi Maglioni’s show. This conversation seeks to foster a broader reflection on bodies—particularly female, but not exclusively—their complex relationship to materiality and symbolism, their capacity to be born and to die, to experience joy and suffering, to be uniquely individual and simultaneously intertwined with the collective fabric of society.
The title of the talk is drawn from Clovis Maillet’s research, which will be explored further during the event, inviting us to engage with the water/earth metaphor that plays a significant role in the Pupa exhibition. We hope this conversation will uncover essential elements for creating feminist (and broadly political) art today. Audience participation is warmly encouraged.
About the artists:
Clovis Maillet is a French historian and artist whose collaborative work often explores gender themes through performance and research-based projects rooted in feminist and trans issues.
Sheila Pepe, known for her postminimalist and queer abstraction background, now creates public sculptures that critique patriarchal traditions, drawing on Rome’s rich art history.
Lex Brown is a video and performance artist who merges satire, music, and social critique in her “Soap Operetta” genre, inspired by Italian opera and commedia dell’arte. Each artist integrates history, society, and critical reflection into their work. Together, they challenge traditional narratives and explore themes of identity, societal structures, and artistic expression.