"We are all monkeys, we are all the same," Italian artist for Serie A says after backlash

Record ID: 1448765

  • Title: "We are all monkeys, we are all the same," Italian artist for Serie A says after backlash
  • Date: 17th December 2019
  • Summary: MILAN, ITALY (DECEMBER 17, 2019) (REUTERS) ITALIAN ARTIST SIMONE FUGAZZOTTO WALKING INTO STUDIO AND LOOKING AT ART (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARTIST SIMONE FUGAZZOTTO, SAYING: "I didn't expect it to happen on this level but still this is the power of art, you know. Art in all the centuries has brought up discussion, polemics and so I am happy that in a little part, art can help to bring up discussions. But no, I didn't expect it to happen especially seven months later." FUGAZZOTTO SPEAKING DURING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARTIST SIMONE FUGAZZOTTO, SAYING: "This reaction for me, in my point of view, shows how the mind is twisted by all the things that are happening right now because a pure mind, a pure heart without any... I don't know the word in English, but a pure heart can see the campaign as a really huge step against racism because it is really brave I guess." VARIOUS OF FUGAZZOTTO LOOKING AT ART FUGAZZOTTO ARTWORK OF CHIMPANZEE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ARTIST SIMONE FUGAZZOTTO, SAYING: "I sought to turnaround the words of racists in the stadium they shout 'monkey', in the stadium they throw bananas on the pitch and make monkey noises so I said, seeing as we cannot explain to these people that we are all people I will turnaround this monkey theme and I will say we are all monkeys, because we are all the same, equal, man and monkeys as you can see there is no difference." CHIMPANZEE ARTWORK ON DISPLAY IN STUDIO (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ARTIST SIMONE FUGAZZOTTO, SAYING: "Seven months of nothing have gone by and yesterday in this news conference a complete madhouse has started. I expected some polemics but not of this type. Absolutely not." FUGAZZOTTO STANDING NEXT TO ARTWORK (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ARTIST SIMONE FUGAZZOTTO, SAYING: "I am proud of what I have done because maybe for the first time, and for this reason we are talking, we can really confront this problem. Because whilst we stay we are all equal, there is no difference, people don't really pay any notice, they stop listening and say 'oh yes, I've already heard this.' You know why a real mess is occuring? Because for the first time I have changed things, I have changed the language and now there is this mess. So, I understand the League can remove themselves from this message but I certainly will not because I profoundly believe in it." CHIMPANZEE ARTWORK BY FUGAZZOTTO ON DISPLAY
  • Embargoed: 31st December 2019 13:54
  • Keywords: Italian artist Simone Fugazzotto Lega Serie A Serie A Simone Fugazzotto artwork featuring apes monkey artwork monkey chants racism
  • Location: MILAN, ITALY / INTERNET
  • City: MILAN, ITALY / INTERNET
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Art,Soccer,Sport,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA002BAD6YBR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:The Italian artist who designed an anti-racism artwork for Italy's Serie A football league featuring three paintings of apes defended his work on Tuesday (December 17), after it received a heavy backlash from anti-discrimination groups and soccer clubs around the world.
    Milan-born Simone Fugazzotto, who is famous in Italy for his drawings of chimpanzees, first published his "No to racism" artwork seven months ago in May as part of an initial commission by Serie A ahead of the Coppa Italia final.
    Despite widespread criticism, he defended his work and was surprised there was such a strong reaction after seven months. He was pleased the artwork had brought tackling racism to the forefront of conversation.
    "I didn't expect it to happen on this level but still this is the power of art, you know," he told Reuters at his gallery in Milan.
    "Art in all the centuries has brought up discussion, polemics and so I am happy that in a little part, art can help to bring up discussions. But no, I didn't expect it to happen especially seven months later," he said.
    Fugazzotto launched his three paintings of apes at a Serie A news conference on the league's anti-racism campaigns, alongside CEO Luigi De Siervo on Monday (December 16).
    Soccer clubs including AS Roma and AC Milan have condemned the campaign, but Fugazzotto said people had "twisted" minds for seeing it as racist.
    "This reaction for me… shows how the mind is twisted by all the things that are happening right now because a pure mind…a pure heart can see the campaign as a really huge step against racism because it is really brave," he said.
    Italian football has been plagued by racism with Inter Milan Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku and Brescia's Italian striker Mario Balotelli having been subjected to racist insults from rival fans during matches this season.
    As he wandered around his art studio full of vibrant paintings of chimpanzees, Fugazzotto said he wanted to change people's perception of monkeys.
    "I sought to turnaround the words of racists in the stadium they shout 'monkey', in the stadium they throw bananas on the pitch and make monkey noises so I said, seeing as we cannot explain to these people that we are all people I will turnaround this monkey theme," he said.
    "We are all monkeys, because we are all the same, equal, man and monkeys as you can see there is no difference."
    (Production: Alex Fraser, Cristiano Corvino, Eleanor Biles, Emily Roe)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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