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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Io Dico Io—I Say I

Mar 11 – June 6, 2021
Viale delle Belle Arti, 131, 00197 Roma RM, Italy

The saying Io dico Io (I say I) derives from texts by the art critic and feminist activist Carla Lonzi. It is a message of empowerment, and declares that women shouldn’t be afraid to assert their authentic selves. Though it is a feminist statement, its significance goes deeper than equal rights. Lonzi is more interested in unbounded self-expression, in a refusal to conform to societal norms. This exhibition brings 50 women from different generations together, among them Vanessa Beecroft, Tatiana Trouvé and Monica Bonvicini. These are female artists who have challenged and continue to challenge the status quo. Portraits, photographs, paintings, and sculpture display radical thought, yet the narratives are each distinctive. —E.C.