Carlo Accerboni, Lady with an Ermine, (1488/90) photomontage, 2019

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/245096369702516/

Food and history are inseparably connected with each other. Whatever we consume, any kind of food is part of history. In the course of time, culinary anthropology has become a very important and approved discipline that permits us to discover various meanings at the bottom of our plates and behind the monographs of big masters there is frequently a passion for cuisine and all its details, which does not even exclude Leonardo Da Vinci, celebre universal artist of the Renaissance period. But he was also a renowned choreographer of feasts and banquets during his service at the Court of Lorenzo The Magnificent in Florence and Ludovico Maria Sforza, The Moor, in Milan. The chronicle tells us about Leonardo, designer of scenic elements of incredible genius and luxury, accompanied by ludic moments, theatre spectacles, dance and music. Five hundred years after Leonardo’s death numerous theories have come into being in reference to his culinary art which was very uncertain and misunderstood at the beginning, but later on applauded for the extravagant choreographies of intense suggestion. In order to remember this less known side of Leonardo’s genius, the Atelier Design for Everyday Life, contributes to his celebrations in 2019 with an artistic and poetic scenario dedicated to Renaissance food tradition and its practice. Design for Everyday Life has been engaged for many years in documenting the quality of our life and in the research of how to ennoble the uncountable gestures that render our existence liveable through culture. Curator Beth Vermeer conceived a project that departs from the connection between history and culinary theory and practice, entitled “Leonardesque Victuals”, going however beyond the concept of food at Leonardo’s epoch. In the terms of Roland Barthes, “food is not only a collection of products that can be used for aesthetical or nutritional studies. It is also a system of communication, a body of images, a protocol of usages, situations and behaviour. “ A group of fifteen artists and numerous poets and writers, singers and performer, got inspired by Renaissance epoch and Leonardo’s kitchen costumes, not only to render homage to the big master, I but also to reveal some aspects of their own identity while showing what they are themselves by means of what they put on the table, or expressed in another way, what they present on canvas.

Among the visual artists invited by Curator Beth Vermeer we meet Carlo Accerboni, Genoa; Laura Accerboni, Lugano; Stefania Alba, Florence; Valter Luca De Bartolomeis, Naples; Uri De Beer, Tel Aviv; Maurizio Elettrico, Naples; Marilena Faraci, Frankfurt; Laura Fonsa, Viareggio/Sassari; Francesco Geronazzo, Perth (Australia); Fabrizio Gori, Florence; Andrea Mancini, Firenze; Andreas Mares, Linz; Enzo Navarra, Trieste; Antonello Paladino, Bologna; Gloria Pastore, Naples; Mario Pepe, Genoa; Claire Jeanine Satin, Dania Beach, Florida having committed to produce an artwork for this Florentine exhibition which is an itinerary event dedicated to Leonardo’s Year throughout 2019 and to his and their proper relationship with food. The first presentation will take place at the historical Studio Ottone Rosai Via Toscanella, Florence and open on Thursday March 21. At the Vernissage Beth Vermeer will present the single artists and their works, followed by a live-performance by Cri Eco and a Poetry Reading with Carlo and Laura Accerboni, Milena Buzzoni, Maria Cristina Castellani, Maurizio Fanni, Rosa Elisa Giangoia, Marta Mei, Mario Pepe, Laura Supino Ghiron, Mario Pepe, Marisa Tumicelli, and others. Laura Supino Ghiron will talk about Leonardo’s personality, “sublime and introverted painter”. After the exhibition visit a convivial dinner will take place at the Osteria Toscanella in the adjacent building, where guests will find a typical menu à la Leonardo, result of Fabrizio Gori’s research, “universal” artist, collector and restaurant owner and of his talented Chef. The dinner will be accompanied by the “a cappella” Duo Rossana Damianelli (soprano) e Paolo Fabbroni (bass). The project conceived and directed by Beth Vermeer is scientifically coordinated by Design for Everyday Life, and takes advantage of the collaboration of: Osteria Toscanella; Studio Ottone Rosai; Museo di Leonardo, Florence; Professional Institute Caselli De Sanctis of Capodimonte; Casa Schlatter; Brunellesca You Art; Cultural Association Il Gatto Certosino; Satura Gallery; D’E.M. Venice Art Gallery; Laboratory 2RC; Essse Caffè; Restaurant Enzo e Piero. Documentation and art video: Lorenzo Isacco; Public Relations and Press Office: Calliope Bureau. Mediapartner: Aurora International Journal, Rome.

Collateral events On Friday March 22nd at 5pm a cultural talk is on programme at the Casa Museo Schlatter in Viale dei Mille 14, Florence, historical dwelling of Swiss born painter Carlo Adolfo Schlatter and of his artistic less known heritage. Guest artist and psychotherapist Marilena Faraci, of Sicilian origin and based in Frankfurt, will confront her art with Schlatter’s Symbolist paintings and theosophical manuscripts in a conversation with Curator Beth Vermeer. The visit to Schlatter’s home and paintings is guided by the artist’s grand-granddaughter Alessandra Schlatter. On Monday April 8th at 6pm at Studio Ottone Rosai in Via Toscanella, Florence, another interesting talk is dedicated to Leonardo and the cuisine of his epoch. Genoese writer Maria Cristina Castellani holds a conference on this topic and Patrizia Battaglia, Theatre Carlo Felice, Genoa, accompanies the talk with a poetical recital. Film projection of Leonardo’s life and work with Vlad’s music, remembering Romanian born composer Roman Vlad and hundred years of his birth

Carlo Accerboni, Battle of Anghiari, photomontage, 2019