Chiara Fumai (1978–2017) was an Italian performance artist.[3]

Chiara Fumai
Born1978[1]
Rome, Italy
Died16 August 2017 (aged 39)[2]
Bari, Italy
NationalityItalian
Other namesNico Fumai
Occupationperformance artist
Known forperformance art

Life and career edit

Born in Rome, Fumai graduated in architecture from Polytechnic University of Milan, and had her breakout in 2013, winning Furla Prize with a performance based on a work by Valerie Solanas.[2] She took part in documenta (13) and held performances at MAXXI, Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume and Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa [it], among other places.[2] In 2016 she won the Premio New York.[2]

Fumai in her performance practice centered her artistic focus on the role of women. Her approach involved a combination of deconstruction methods, exploration of freak shows, engagement with metaphysics, transvestism, and DJ sets. This analysis was conducted through an anarcho-feminist lens, also in relation to the art system[4].She also exhibited under the pseudonym Nico Fumai, a fictitious character inspired by her father[5] In 2019 her works were exhibited in the Italian Pavilion on the occasion of the 58th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.[6] Her work was the subject of a solo show at the Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève in 2020.[7]

Death and commemoration edit

Chiara Fumai committed suicide on 16 August 2017, at the age of 39.[2]

Her archives are held in the Castello di Rivoli in Turin.[8] In 2023, the gardens of Piazza Eroi del Mare in Bari have been named after the artist.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ Bovino, Emily Verla (2017-08-25). "Chiara Fumai (1978-2017)". Frieze. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e "È morta a 39 anni Chiara Fumai". Artribune (in Italian). 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  3. ^ Vogel, Wendy (2019-06-01). "Chiara Fumai". Artforum. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  4. ^ "È morta a 39 anni Chiara Fumai | Artribune" (in Italian). 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  5. ^ "guidocosta projects - Nico Fumai: being remixed". www.guidocostaprojects.com. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  6. ^ Russeth, Andrew (2018-10-04). "For 2019 Venice Biennale, Italy Goes with Enrico David, Chiara Fumai, Liliana Moro". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  7. ^ "Chiara Fumai Poems I Will Never Release, 2007–2017". Her work was the subject of a solo show at the Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève in 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Chiara Fumai Archive". Castello di Rivoli. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  9. ^ "I giardini in piazza Eroi del Mare dedicati al ricordo di Chiara Fumai: "È stata un'artista geniale, un talento visionario"". BariToday (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-01-20.

External links edit