This Is The End
Set against the evocative backdrop of Casa della Memoria, AND Ente del Terzo Settore is presenting a new version of the exhibition This Is The End, following previous editions held at the Villa Reale in Monza, the Villa Bagatti Valsecchi in Varedo and the MO.CA – Centre for New Cultures in Brescia. The exhibition was originally conceived to highlight the critical issues facing the contemporary world: wars, pandemics, migration, women’s issues, the climate crisis, the advent of artificial intelligence, overpopulation, property speculation, etc. In the new exhibition, designed specifically for the Casa della Memoria, the focus is on the resilience that human beings demonstrate in the face of adversity, thereby transforming the desperate cry of the first exhibition into a yearning for hope, even amidst the difficult times we are currently facing.
Elisa Cella presents a series of pathogens, reminding us that human beings have developed an extraordinary capacity to withstand epidemics through scientific research, social discipline and the interventions of national and supranational bodies. Mahnaz Ekhtiary captures in her works the pride and resilience of Iranian women, who are fighting for civil rights against dictatorship and religious fundamentalism. Nicola Evangelisti presents works on war and the arms trade: for him, resistance means adopting a pacifist stance in a world hurtling towards global rearmament and where new fronts of war are constantly opening up. Loredana Galante reminds us of the immense resilience women have had to show – and continue to show – in the face of male abuse, in every era and in every place. Nadia Galbiati urges us to resist financial speculation linked to the construction industry and land abuse, which are closely tied to the liveability of cities and global warming. Roberto Ghezzi draws our attention to the resilience and adaptation that aquatic environments must continually demonstrate in the face of climate change, extreme weather events and the encroachment of human activities. Andrea Meregalli presents us with the highly topical issue of artificial intelligence, showing us how, in his artistic practice, he manages to resist its standardising and standardised content by exploiting its very technical limitations. Matteo Suffritti tackles the issue of pollution and energy sources, emphasising nature’s resilience to environmental contamination.