Abstract

Much of Seawright’s photographic work has examined landscape narrative and the phenomenology of place, exploring the relationship between the artwork and memory, particularly in locations related to conflict (but not those locations overtly memorialized as landscape monuments e.g memorial gardens, war cemeteries, historic battlefields). These works, made in 2007 are landscapes of concealment from the Trentino region of Northern Italy. Using Aerial Interdiction Mapping conducted by Cambridge Architectural Research Ltd, the photographs indicate the distribution of unexploded ordinance dropped on Italy by the British in 1944. The works were commissioned for the initiative Italian atlas: portrait of a changing Italy, conducted by the MIBAC (Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities) Italy and DARC (Director General for contemporary art and architecture), Rome. They were first shown in Museum of Art for the XXI Century (MAXXI, formerly The Contemporary Art and Architecture Centre) in Rome, Italy in Oct 07 - Jan 08. One of 15 photographers commissioned to undertake visual research in the Italian landscape, particularly in relation to landscape at risk. The photographs pose the question; How can the photographic interrogation of landscape excavate narratives and histories not visible on the surface of the land? How can the post-conflict landscape offer revitalized insights into the narratives of war and the memorializing of history? Each photograph is made on the site of an unexploded bomb. The title of each work indicates the number of bombs dropped on that location on a specific date. The exhibition toured to the International Photography Festival Reggio Emilia 30th April – 8th June 2008 Centro Internazionale Loris Maluguzzi, and Gallery Marangoni, Florence. Two exhibition catalogues - one Italian one English: Fabiani, F 2008: Italian Atlas, Landscape at Risk, Electra Milan 148pp. The UXB works were subsequently exhibited in the exhibition 'Paesaggi dell'invisibile' at Galleria Traghetto - Venice, 9th April - 29th May 2009 and Galleria Traghetto Rome, 28th April - 19th June 2009. Curated by Angela Madesani including James Casebere and Ulrich Egger. In 2009 one of the images was included in the Interface billboard art project in Belfast (see supplementary material).

Available Versions of this Item

• UXB - Exhibition of photographs commissioned by Museum of Art for the XXI Century, Rome 2007. (deposited 11 Jan 2010 10:23) [Currently Displayed]
  • UXB - Exhibition of photographs commissioned by Museum of Art for the XXI Century, Rome. (deposited 28 Mar 2012 11:09)