WE SHOW OUR FACES. Artists' books for the Constitution

Wednesday, 20 May,at the Biblioteca Giuliano Briganti, the concluding event of the project Ci mettiamo la faccia. Artist's books for the Constitution, created with the female and male students of the Art High School "Duccio di Buoninsegna" in Siena, is scheduled. The initiative represents a moment of public presentation and reflection on the role of the arts and models of contemporary artistic experimentation, in relation to major civic themes such as the Constitution of the Italian Republic. The project is based on the idea that art is a valuable tool for knowledge and personal growth, capable of bringing young people closer to issues of great social relevance.

The classes IA and IC, led by the teacher of Two-Dimensional Arts – Painting Disciplines Alessandra Ragionieri, studied the Constitution as part of the Civic Education program. The project, of a 'cross-disciplinary' nature and included in the PTOF (Three-Year Plan of the Educational Offer), involved multiple subjects, allowing the theme to be developed through the particularities of each. Through moments of discussion, fundamental articles were examined, including: Inalienable rights of man (Art. 2); Equal dignity (Art. 3); Right to work (Art. 4); Culture and research (Art. 9); Peace and justice (Art. 11); Freedom of thought (Art. 21); Art, science and school (Arts. 33 and 34); Women and work (Art. 37); Right to vote for men and women (Art. 48). 

The project also developed thanks to the collaboration with the Giuliano Briganti Library and with Dr. Beatrice Pulcinelli, who curated the theoretical section dedicated to the art-object book in Italy, starting from the historical Avant-Gardes of the twentieth century and addressing figures such as Fortunato Depero, Tullio d’Albisola, Bruno Munari, up to contemporary authors. Particular attention was paid to the graphic plates by Pablo Echaurren, on the articles of the Constitution, created for the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy. These, together with Librartis, the library's permanent collection of artist books, and the exhibition Double Sense. Ink and Color, represented important visual and conceptual reference points, as well as inspiration for the use of techniques and materials.

Organized in small groups, the students reworked the articles of the Constitution in an artistic form, producing ten artist-books in accordion (leporello) format, in which the faces drawn and painted by each student also appear, offering a visual and poetic interpretation of the fundamental principles. The result is a personal reflection and a completely new approach, which became the title of the entire project: We Put Our Face Forward.