GET TOGETHER AND PAINT!
STUDENTS AND NEWCOMERS CREATED TWO STUNNING CARPETS TOGETHER AT AN UNITED PAINTING ACADEMY WORKSHOP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LAW IN FLORENCE
In November 2019 United Painting was invited to the University of Florence to perform a creative intervention. With approximately 60.000 students, the University of Florence is one of the oldest and biggest universities in Italy, a quite conservative institution in a traditional city with a right wing leaning political climate. The request was to create an art project that would stimulate the student’s perception of society outside the safety of the university walls.
This creative intervention consisted of the co-creation of a colorful carpet at the piazza surrounding the university buildings. In collaboration with Il Cenacolo, a local organization focusing on guiding newcomers, we found a group of youngsters who were eager to participate. On the first day, all participants received instructions including the message that everyone involved was not just supposed to execute, but also co-create.
On the second day, the participants had built enough confidence to actively involve passersby; to answer their questions and to invite them to take part and to pass on their newly acquired knowledge. Once finished, the welcome carpet had somehow turned into a magical carpet, attracting all kinds of users: playing children, people engaging in conversations with strangers. It became a pop up communal space, an example of instant placemaking.
By working with predesigned stencils and patterns, the shared ownership of the project was placed firmly in the hands of all who took part. After a brief introduction, participants were able to make their own decisions during the creative process, a conscious effort towards inclusivity and true co-creation; the outcome being an artwork with substantial visual and social impact.
Dr. Paola Pannia (post-doc research Fellow, consultant to UNHCR and NGO ‘Defense for Children’ and lawyer):
‘As researchers, we often struggle to communicate the outcome of our studies to a broader audience, in a straightforward and efficient way. Working with United Painting meant for us reaching this crucial goal. They managed to involve students, academics and random people passing by the university campus in a spectacular art performance which saw also the participation of young refugees as co-protagonists. The result was a spontaneous, genuine and creative exercise of cooperation, I would say a wonderful art craft in itself’.
