{"id":11639,"date":"2016-05-16T17:31:26","date_gmt":"2016-05-16T15:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/?p=11639"},"modified":"2016-05-16T17:31:26","modified_gmt":"2016-05-16T15:31:26","slug":"italys-amazing-living-works-of-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/italys-amazing-living-works-of-art\/","title":{"rendered":"Italy\u2019s Amazing Living Works Of Art"},"content":{"rendered":"

I recently came across a video excerpt from the popular TV show ‘Italy\u2019s Got Talent’ on youtube. Here was something truly beautiful and astonishing that I\u2019d never seen before: the Quadri Plastici di Avigliano<\/b>. Fascinated, I decided to find out more …<\/p>\n

Plastic ‘Paintings’<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Every year in Avigliano, a small town in the province of Potenza, Basilicata, a unique and extraordinary show takes place: l<\/b>a Sacra Rappresentazione dei Quadri Plastici<\/b>. A quadro plastico<\/b>, also known as a quadro vivente<\/b>, is a living work of art which represents either a historical, sacred or mythological scene, or a masterpiece of figurative art using immobile actors and actresses.<\/p>\n

\"Caravaggio?<\/a>

A masterpiece by Caravaggio? Note the modern spotlight to the upper right.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

The original painting: ‘Calling of St. Matthew’ by Caravaggio.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Etymological note: The word plastico<\/b> (plastic) is derived from the Greek plastikos meaning “capable of being shaped or moulded”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Origins<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The official website <\/span>of<\/span> the <\/span>Pro Loco di Avigliano<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/span> gives <\/span>us <\/span>a bit of <\/span>historical background<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Le prime notizie certe sulla rappresentazione dei quadri plastici si hanno ad Avigliano a partire dagli anni \u201820. Nella serata della vigilia delle pi\u00f9 importanti festivit\u00e0 aveva luogo la processione della \u201cnave\u201d, una costruzione con l\u2019ossatura in legno, rivestita di carta colorata, con al centro la statuetta del Santo. <\/b><\/p>\n

The first certain news of the representation of quadri plastici<\/strong> in Avigliano dates back to the 20\u2019s. During the evening preceding the most important festivals the procession of the \u2018nave\u2019 took place. The \u2018nave\u2019 was a structure made from a wooden \u2018skeleton\u2019 covered in coloured paper, with a statue of the Saint in the middle.<\/p>\n

La \u201cnave\u201d veniva portata a spalla e preceduta da uomini travestiti da turchi e da bambini che reggevano lampioncini veneziani. La nave era seguita da carri trainati da cavalli e muli sui quali venivano allestiti dei \u201cquadri\u201d, detti plastici, perch\u00e9 riproducevano soggetti di arte sacra e storica, interpretati da giovani, che ad ogni sosta dei carri assumevano quella rigidit\u00e0 statutaria che conferiva la tridimensionalit\u00e0 dell\u2019opera d\u2019arte rappresentata.<\/b><\/p>\n

The \u2018nave\u2019 was carried by shoulder, and preceded by men dressed as Turks and children carrying paper lanterns. It was followed by carts pulled by horses and mules, upon which were staged \u201ctableau\u201d, known as plastici<\/b>, because they reproduced subjects from sacred and historical art. These were interpreted by youths who, at every stopping off point of the carts, assumed a statue like rigidity that gave a three dimensionality to the artwork being reproduced.<\/p>\n

Nella versione pi\u00f9 moderna i quadri plastici venivano invece realizzati su palchi fissi e con la maggiore aderenza anche scenografica del soggetto riprodotto.<\/b><\/p>\n

In the more modern version, the quadri plastici<\/strong> were created on fixed stages with a closer scenographic resemblance to the subject being reproduced.<\/p>\n

\"Salom\u00e8<\/a>

Salom\u00e8 con la testa del Battista by Caravaggio<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

\"Salom\u00e8<\/a>

Salom\u00e8, recreated by the actors and actresses of Avigliano<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Dal Vivo (Live)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But to really appreciate the beauty of these tableaux you need to see them dal vivo<\/b> (live), or the next best thing, on video. Here\u2019s one of the most interesting videos that I\u2019ve found on the subject.<\/p>\n