The non-profit and global
contemporary art project Imago Mundi promoted by Luciano
Benetton is the subject of a documentary, Behind the Frames,
that has been presented at the National Gallery of Modern Art
(GNAM) in Rome.
The film, directed by Stefano Ribaldi, reveals the 'spirit'
of the enterprise that intends to build up a picture of global
cultures and civilisations by bringing together works all
measuring 10x12 cm by over 25,000 emerging and established
artists from more than 150 countries, regions and native
populations through the testimonies of some of the artists who
have participated in the project, interspersed with the
recollections of the Treviso entrepreneur Benetton himself.
It is divided into eight chapters on various themes,
including war, happiness, history and nature, and begins in the
city of Treviso before moving to other cities touched by History
such as Sarajevo and Berlin, counctries such as Syria that are
still at war and the territories of the Australian Aboriginal
people and New Zealand Māori.
The aim of the documentary is to outline the value system
embodied by Imago Mundi, rooted in dialogue, exchange,
solidarity and respect for different cultures, and in the study
of art and beauty themselves.
The star of 'Behind the Frames' is Benetton himself.
The founder of the clothing empire tells of his life and
passions: for travel as a form of knowledge, for art as a way of
understanding the complexity of contemporary society and the
desire to work with and for the young generations.
"With Imago mundi I discovered a different world to the one I
knew through my work, full of cultures, and that goes beyond the
realm of geography and economics," Benetton said.
"I had limitations, now thanks to the project I see things
differently and I like the world better because it is simpler,"
he added.
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