Inflatable slide in church under Romanino frescoes: controversy in Breno

The summer in placid Breno, a small town of just over four thousand inhabitants in the Camonica Valley in the province of Brescia, has been enlivened by the fierce controversy that erupted after an inflatable slide was mounted under Romanino’s frescoes in one of the area’s most beautiful churches, that of St. Anthony. What may seem to everyone to be a whimsical idea to curb the problem of the vocation crisis is actually an installation by a local artist, Stefano Mendeni (born 1985 in Val Camonica), entitled Mendeni vs Romanino - An Interior Clash. The clash actually took place, but it turned out to be anything but an inner one, as the inflatable slide pissed off virtually everyone (and in all likelihood that was the intent): the municipal administration which disassociated itself, the minority which asked the majority to report back, the citizens of Breno, devotees, and art enthusiasts. The installation was supposed to last one weekend (“Come and rejoice under one of the most beautiful painted vaults in the world”: this was Mendeni’s invitation), but by Sunday it had already been deflated. The same, however, cannot be said of the controversy that continues to chase after each other, not least because the news is beginning to come out of the local news.

She is, however, decidedly pleased Patrizia Tigossi, the director of the “Cantieri Culturali” festival, an event that has been held in the square in front of the church for the past few years, who openly spoke of a “provocation” (getting in response from a citizen on social media: “provocation okay, art little”). “We find puzzled eyes at the installation of the creator Stefano Mendeni,” he said in a note. “Could it be a coincidence to see the phenomenon of artistic misunderstanding come to life when the tools to define value and thought of a choice not one’s own are lacking? The only chance the novice critic can allow himself to ride is the evaluation of common respect. In the case of the installation in question, the protection of the national monument, so dear to most, has not fallen asleep on the soft surface of a plastic slide.” Mendeni, for his part, merely called his slide an “innocent toy,” figuring that Romanino would accept it in silence.

Much more talkative, however, Culture Councillor Annita De Zio , who disassociated herself from the intervention and in turn issued a note: “We are perplexed about the installation defined as artistic,” she said, “for an inflatable is not a suitable place the church, a national monument subject to constraints. This inappropriate use undermines the credibility of our work. I do not agree with the choice and I dissociate myself as an alderman and citizen.”

The alderman will be able to console herself with the publicity Breno is getting: this story has made most people aware that there is a church with a Romanino masterpiece in the Camuno village, or it will simply have made someone want to leaf through a brochure on the beauties of the Camonica Valley. In any case, it must be said that Mendeni’s idea is not exactly the most original: a few years ago in England, in Rochester, a minigolf course was installed for a month in the city’s Cathedral, one of the country’s most important Gothic monuments. A way to increase interest in religion, it was said at the time. Whether this increase in interest actually took place is unknown. But perhaps someone will have ... taken notes.

In the pictures: the inflatable of controversy. Photo by Stefano Mendeni

Inflatable slide in church under Romanino frescoes: controversy in Breno

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.