Biennale Bregaglia: Val Bregaglia, Switzerland

Overview

In his painting practice Deplazes devotes himself to important themes such as the body, landscape and a way of being present in the latter that has dreamlike traits. During the Biennial, the artist's works are exhibited in an abandoned house whose facade displays graffiti decorations that tell the story of Bregaglia.

Beyond the exhibition site, the source of inspiration for these site-specific works is the entire valley, in whose surroundings some of Deplazes' artistic role models have lived or still live. The paintings in the exhibition give voice to the contrasting feelings of narrowness and spaciousness experienced in Bregaglia.
 
The Ca d'Pruz is a low, oblong building connected to neighboring houses to form a row. It was built in 1577, the year to which the exceptional facade decoration also dates. The plastered exterior walls are covered with sgraffiti that occupies the entire surface. In addition to figurative scenes, the coats of arms of the Prevosti and the Republic of the Three Leagues are also found there. The latter is referred to by the inscription translated directly from German to Italian : "We three are together congionte / Who will outrage him we will show him the forehead." The house was inhabited until 1940 by an Italian coalman. Since then the building has been empty.
Installation Views