MAMbo's recipe against coronavirus: performance scheduled for exhibition can be seen in streaming

MAMbo, the museum of modern and contemporary art in Bologna, is determined to fight the coronavirus emergency in its own way: since the Emilia Romagna region has closed its museums until March 1, the institution has decided to make Ragnar Kjartansson’s environmental performance Bonjour visible via streaming, as part of the AGAINandAGAINandAGAINand exhibition, running from January 23 to May 3, 2020.

The museum therefore wanted to make one of the works most appreciated by visitors to the exhibition accessible to the public, if not live, then at least online, for its monumentality, meticulous reconstruction of the details of a 1950s French village, and looping performance by two actors. Bonjour will be viewable from Thursday, Feb. 27 to Sunday, March 1 on the MAMbo YouTube channel on Thursday and Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.

In addition, there is also a special promotion for streaming viewers: people who send an email with the subject Bonjour to istituzionebolognamusei@comune.bologna.it during streaming hours will be reserved a reduced admission to the AGAINandAGAINand exhibition, starting from the first day of reopening, and a free MAMbo pin. The MAMbo website can also be consulted for info.

“What could be more consistent in the times of this viral segregation than to see the streaming of this scene?” wonders Roberto Grandi, president of Istituzione Bologna Musei. “While waiting to come to MAMbo in person we tune our spirit to this reiteration of everyday gestures that refer to a museum that continues to tell stories even in the absence of its audience. With this initiative MAMbo, unable to be inhabited by the public, goes out to be hosted by a virtual public.”

“It is an experiment that as a museum encourages us to overcome physical barriers,” says Lorenzo Balbi, MAMbo artistic director, “making available to users what they cannot currently experience as visitors. The streaming is possible thanks to the enthusiasm and willingness with which Ragnar Kjartansson accepted the proposal, the collaboration of LAMINARIE and the commitment of the staff of the Istituzione Bologna Musei and the Municipality of Bologna.”

“This is,” says Matteo Lepore, councillor for culture and promotion of the city of Bologna Municipality, “a proposal that sees our civic museums working to keep their great cultural offerings accessible to the public, even under conditions of temporary suspension of openings for precautionary purposes. A sign of how the city of Bologna knows how to react to emergency situations with skill, timeliness and creativity.”

Pictured: a moment from Bonjour by Ragnar Kjartansson

MAMbo's recipe against coronavirus: performance scheduled for exhibition can be seen in streaming

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