Maraman
by Lavinia Raccanello
Description
The term ‘maraman’ (pronunciation: /maraˈmaŋ/), meaning ‘suddenly, all at once’, is utilised in the Grana and Maira valleys. The artist has crafted an outdoor installation featuring the word ‘maraman’ in weathering steel. The Upper Maira Valley, located at the heart of Italy’s Occitan territory, has preserved unique aspects of pronunciation and lexicon due to the isolation of some of its settlements, making it a bastion of the well-preserved Alpine Occitan dialect, particularly in the area from Macra to Celle di Macra. In this region, Occitan is affectionately termed ‘nòstra mòda’ (‘our way’), a familial language that varies in pronunciation from one village to another and sometimes even between hamlets within the same municipality. Raccanello chose a word that was emblematic of the territory and featured a clear correspondence between sound and symbol, ensuring legibility even for those unfamiliar with Occitan, including Italian and French speakers.
Lavinia Raccanello
Lavinia Raccanello is an Italian artist and sculptor whose work is deeply rooted in the exploration of the nexus between humanity, society, and social justice. She spotlights the potency of dialogic and participatory practices and examines the tension between state authority and individual freedom and responsibility. With a foundation in European and Transnational Law, Lavinia graduated with honours in Painting and Visual Arts in 2012, her studies concentrating on civil disobedience and the role of resistance within the arts. Her creations have been showcased in collective exhibitions both in Italy and internationally, as well as solo displays in cities such as Glasgow, New York, Turin, Milan, and Romainmôtier since 2011. Additionally, she has engaged in numerous artist residencies, including the Spinola Banna Foundation for Art (Italy), Many Studio Graduate Residency Program (UK), Flux Factory (USA), Many Mini Residency (Mexico), De Liceiras 18 (Porto, Portugal), Scottish Sculpture Workshop (UK), Summer School of Engaged Art (Germany), and Arc Artist Residency (Switzerland).
