Cianfrusaglie (2013)

Cianfrusaglie is an Italian word meaning “knickknacks”, “gewgaws”, “gimcracks”; it usually defines the stuff that, even if useless and valueless, people still keep at home and are unable to get rid of. The term “kitsch” is also often associated with this category of objects.

This work is a collection of images of kitschy objects, private and public, sacred and profane, all taken in the small Tuscan village of Artimino. The importance local people attach to fake plants and flowers, small terracotta angels and old decorated pots is really impressive. They preserve these objects with great care as if they were works of art: that’s why in the 2013 slide show presenting this series, the village is ironically called Arty Mino.