Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Untitled (sans titre)

Check out this new network 'Untitled (sans titre)'.  

From their website, "Untitled (sans titre) is an association that aims to promote art and artists.  Twice a year, in Spring and Autumn, Untitled (sans titre) will organise stimulating meetings in some of Brussels most beautiful private residences, between artists and high level personalities in the worlds of politics, education and thought, business and science to discuss contemporary issues. Through their work and approaches, artists will provoke debate and “lateral thinking” on issues such as environment and sustainability, economic and social progress, mobility, education, intercultural dialogue.  Untitled (sans titre) is about mingling and networking at the highest level, bringing artistic creativity to influence thinking processes; it aims to provide the intellectual nourishment that we all need in order to face our daily decision-making with a depth of understanding."

Monday, May 25, 2009

Benigni's Dante on US Tour

Oscar winning actor and Italian comedian Roberto Benigni will be coming to America with his one-man monologue based on Dante's 'Inferno'.   Stopping in San Francisco and New York, 'TuttoDante' is Benigni's contemporary take on the classic text, mixed with off-the-cuff political jokes.  He has been performing the show in Italy for the last three years to over a million people.  Though known primarily as a clown, Benigni showcased his intellectual side.  In each performance he recites a canto in Italian of the 'Inferno' from memory and provides detailed explanations of the history and poetry in English.  Benigni still sees himself as more of a entertainer than scholar, and manages to slip in a bucket load of jokes about his nemesis, Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, sending him to the deepest of Dante's depths.  As Benigni says, “Only comedians can talk about death, life, God and Virgin Mary.  If was a tragic actor, I couldn’t allow myself. But with this accent I can do it. I can talk with death in person because I am a clown. Yes. And I am proud to be a clown — very much.”