Francesco Vezzoli, Selfie Sebastian (Self-portrait as Saint Sebastian by Andrea Mantegna), 2009-14
courtesy the artist
It’ll all end in tears for the Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli in Venice this spring. The maverick Italian artist is unveiling a series of works at the venerated Museo Correr in La Serenissima—adorned with tears (Museums of Tears, 17 April-24 November). “Nearly 30 years ago, the artist began embroidering tears onto images of masterpieces, thereby creating his own museum,” says a statement. Some of the teary works, shown in dialogue with classical pieces from the Museo Correr collection, are historic, others are new creations. Donatien Grau, head of contemporary programmes at the Louvre, has curated this collection of lachrymose pieces. Vezzoli says in a statement: “After some extensive research, I realised that you can find all kinds of activities and expressions of feelings [throughout art history], apart from the act of crying. Tears are remarkably absent from the visual universe of art, they are a sign of weakness, which we do not want the public image of art to be. Art can be intimate, like my gesture of embroidery, it can change our lives.” Mischief-maker Vezzoli is known for his star-studded 2005 film, Trailer for the Remake of Gore Vidal’s Caligula.
