“A voyeurism, a deadly patriarchal operation”: these are the harsh words of Valentina Cervella, one of the students of the Master's program in Art History and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage at the University of Genoa, who in the last hours have reacted harshly condemning the exhibition that the Dedicated to 17th century painter Artemisia Gentileschi in the Palazzo Ducale in the Ligurian capital. At the heart of the protests is the way in which the artist's rape is narrated during the exhibition: “While the voice of an actress reads out in detail and forcefully all the phases of the rape, as told to Artemisia during the exhibition.” Process and through the Documents testify, a lot of lingering on the details – Cervella describes it to Repubblica – the painter's images are projected on the walls, and on the bed, physically, in front of the public, a flood of blood pours out. What does all this have to do with understanding and appreciating an artist?”
The answer
The exhibition, inaugurated by Undersecretary of State Vittorio Sgarbi and promoted and organized by Arthemisia together with the Palazzo Ducale Cultural Foundation of the Municipality of Genoa and the Liguria Region, is now at the center of controversy on social media and in sector magazines. “The sad personal story of the well-known painter seems to attract exhibitions in which rape and pain pornography are spectacularly depicted and the artistic quality steals the show,” we read on Exibart, for example. The response from the Palazzo Ducale Foundation also soon arrived: “We believe that the message of the exhibition is consistent with the attention that the Ducale, in all its forms, has always paid and should do to rights and the fight against violence against women. “Reach as wide an audience as possible. “In view of the criticism of Artemisia Gentileschi’s exhibition that has been received in recent days, we remain open to dialogue and constructive discussion.”
And again: Iole Siena, President of Arthemisia, emphasizes: “The entire exhibition is a clear and unambiguous denunciation against violence against women.” It is no coincidence that we celebrate the woman who was the first to have the courage to face the violence she suffered to publicly denounce it, and which 400 years ago even called on the entire society to demand its freedom. When we talk about Artemisia, one cannot ignore the history of this fact, which marked her entire life, especially her artistic life. It would mean a censorship of the facts. The exhibition was designed exclusively by women who work in a company that consists almost entirely of women and in which there is respect and appreciation for women at the highest level. But what are we talking about?
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