Contemporaneity in its multiple expressions. Shirin Neshat, the undisputed protagonist of the 2018 edition of RUFA CONTEST, did nothing but communicate herself, conveying her understanding of art, going beyond forms and schemes. A clear message that the students of the Rome University of Fine Arts have personalized in their own image and likeness in the various appointments that have characterized the Iranian artist’s trip to Rome.
In the masterclass, which took place in a building symbol of Roman culture, such as the former Pastificio Cerere in the heart of the San Lorenzo district, the twenty-five concepts admitted to the final of the contest were the subject of comparison and debate: students on the one hand, Shirin Neshat on the other, in a “battle – idea” never trivial, aimed at building a transversal thought, aimed at mixing and contaminating the inner world with the outer one, in a constant search for images and sounds, reflective, silent and sharp. A goal hypothesized and realized by the artistic director Emanuele Cappelli, perfectly shared by the director of the Academy Fabio Mongelli and the event manager Alessandro Mongelli.
From the former Pastificio to the Teatro Olimpico, generating a sort of connection between the diversified souls of the city, almost as if to bridge the gap between black and white, to accept the differences, to determine color even when it is absent. A “sold – out” announced that demonstrated the non-conventionality of Rome.
And the enlightened eyes of children, teachers, and those who go beyond appearances confirm the “physical” participation in the emotional journey that Shirin Neshat has made, making concrete the senses eager for aesthetics, beauty and content. The RUFA CONTEST 2018 shows itself in line with the social divergences that current events propose: “Sound or Space or Time. In White and Black”. The distance that separates white from black, and black from white, is composed of a space that expands and contracts according to circumstances.
And then the students, the projects, the maximum expression of that “Rufa – experience” capable of making a difference and imagining tomorrow. Twenty-five experiences in uniqueness: Iulia Bita (EUFONIA), Sonia Bouslama (MY DAD HAS BROKEN HIS WALLS), Stefano Calabrese (COMFORT ZONE), Rebeca Elena Carini (THE HILL), Francesco Castellaneta (GENTE COMUNE), Maria Cavinato (INTERFERENCE), Francesca Cornacchini (THE CODE #01), Matteo Delai (ZEMBLANITY), Giulia Di Franco (RUIN ANATOMY), Daniele Falchi (ПAPEГKΛIƩIƩ – PARENCLISI), Mirko Fracassi (CRACK), Filippo Gualazzi (LiberAzioni), Camilla Gurgone (ECHINOIDEA), Anica Huck (WHITE OUT), Mohammad Seyed Jeddi (IL CONFINE), Cem Kanyar (POLARIS), Alex Labombarda (UN SACCHETTO DI STOFF), Francesca Lezzerini (AMORE GEOMETRICO), Francesca Mattiangeli (SPECTRUM), Emanuela Mottola (UNISONO), Davide Rossi Doria (NO/BODY), Elisa Sabatino (TIC TAC BEAT), Silvia Serraiocco (THE SIGN OF A LIFE), Arianna Tedesco (THE OBSERVATOROSSERVATO), Sara Zanin (THIGH GAP_LO SPAZIO CHE AVANZA_). Out of competition the former RUFA graduate student, Cecilia Milza (in – BE – tween).
For the winner Francesca Cornacchini (THE CODE #01) a scholarship and a plane ticket to New York, to spend a few days in Shirin Neshat’s studio, looking for herself, but above all for the future.
Special awards
DIMENSIONE SUONO ROMA: EUFONIA DI IULIA BITA
EMIRATES: EUFONIA DI JULIA BITA
FONDAZIONE ROMA EUROPA: THE CODE DI FRANCESCA CORNACCHINI
MTV: LIBERAZIONI DI FILIPPO GUALAZZI
RAI CINEMA: IL CONFINE DI SEYED MOHAMMAD JEDDI
SKY ARTE: TIC TAC BEAT DI ELISA SABATINO
MENZIONE SPECIALE DELLA GIURIA: ECHINOIDEA DI CAMILLA GURGONE
