Dec 13

Dec 13 Eleonora Luccarini

*4 hooves don’t leave footprints*, still from video, 2021, courtesy the artist

I think we can all relate to the common experience of the identity crisis, growing up unsure of ourselves and our place in the world. However, Eleonora Luccarini’s work addresses the universal phenomenon of growing up and figuring out our own identities, presented through the output of her forged alter ego, Leonard Sante.

In some iterations, he is described as ‘genderless and ageless’, whereas in others he is ‘a white, cisgender, heterosexual man’, showing the motions of his identity crisis and ever-changing form as time goes on, placing himself under different identities to experiment with what feels correct, an experience we can all relate to.

*4 hooves don’t leave footprints*, installation view, MAMbo - Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna, Bologna IT, 2021, photo Carlo Favero, courtesy the artist

Leonard Sante is always represented through a CGI avatar, yet every time with a slightly alternative form accompanied by explanatory words and poetry. With developing technologies and programs, files and works can be continually changed and updated, just as Sante’s identity and form changes.

It makes us consider how technology can aid our development as humans, for example with creating different versions of ourselves or our ‘avatar’ in the future. It dabbles upon the idea of a utopian future where changing our physical form can be much easier and widely accessible through technology, replacing plastic surgery and the collection of physical items to represent ourselves, we can present ourselves to the world accordingly by editing our form technologically, just as Leonard Sante does.

Luccarini uses a combination of poetry, digitally manipulated art pieces and performance art to explore her alter ego’s attempts to understand his identity, experiences and form. The accompanying poetry, for example ‘CONDYLURA03’ follows the developments of Sante’s sense of self, trying to navigate his place in the world, and although the visuals change and adapt with each iteration of the character, the message and sense of relatability remain consistent, and honestly rather comforting.