Fine Primo Tempo (End of first half)
In July 2008, at Rotonda della Besana, Milan, ConiglioViola presented the video-installation Fine primo tempo (End of the First Half), which sprang from a paradoxical interpretation, in an eschataological key, of Al Bano & Romina’s hit song Ci sarà.
Ci sarà – escatological tribute to Al Bano & Romina Power / HDV video / 4’09’’ / 2008
Most of ConiglioViola research in the field of video art is strictly linked with music. The process there consists in selecting well-known music hits from the past and re-arranging them with a new version developed by the artists. Once the song is so re-written, the artists then produces a video for it in which they also play as performers. Through the use of video, the artists unveil a double meaning implicit in a song that is already rooted inside the collective imaginary. It attributes new meanings to the song, distorting its common perception, that which Arthur Danto would refer to as “transfiguration of the commonplace”. The case of the video Ci sarà (2008) is emblematic of this kind of research. The song Ci sarà was a hit by the singing couple Al Bano & Romina Power, stars of the 80s, and this song is commonly regarded as a love song. In the video by ConiglioViola the song lyrics are read like a text that talks about the afterlife. The artists here portray themselves like two children at the time of their funeral, but instead of a Church the ceremony takes place on the stage of the San Remo music festival.
In the installation, at the feet of the video-projection, the ghosts of the two singing children are projected onto two open coffins.
ConiglioViola also engraves the song Ci Sarà on a limited edition of violet vinyls.
The title of the work turned out to be prophetic, as it was followed by a sudden interruption in transmissions. Symbolically and performatively the official website, www.coniglioviola.com, was shut down. For months the home page of the site, which had always been the point of departure and driving force behind the ConiglioViola’s undertakings, was emblazoned with the words “Fine primo tempo” (End of the First Half) and access to the site was blocked.
In the catalogue of the solo show Sono un pirata/Sono un signore the philosopher Maurizio Ferraris signs an interesting critical essay about this work .