Mario Mariotti's hands

Elephants, dogs, zebras, all of them colourful and irreverent. They are a few of the works of art, very simple but effective, created by the artist Mario Mariotti with his own hands. Never was a definition more fitting: Mariotti put make-up on, dressed and disguised his hands to make these colourful characters,

the protagonists of a bestiary currently on exhibit at the Istituto degli Innocenti.
Animani is the title of the exhibition, realized more than 12 years after the artist's passing away, celebrating the creative, yet at the same time humble genius of Mario Mariotti, a truly Florentine artist, an art craftsman, convinced that this was within everyone's reach.
His workshop was located in the Oltrarno, his artistic inventions struck here and there in the city. The most unforgettable remains without doubt the projection of images on the bare façade of Santo Spirito, one night several years ago.
This exhibition, instead, reveals the prodigies of Mario's hands, a body art with surprising results. Not just animals are represented, but also eccentric musicians and sportsmen in action. piovra The exhibition benefits from the collaboration of FILA, particularly in the realization of the workshops proposed at the “Bottega dei Ragazzi” for children visiting the exhibition. The guide to the workshops was created by Francesca, the artist's daughter, who keeps her father's spirit and memory alive.

Animani will be open from 29 November to 11 April 2010 in the splendid exhibition spaces of the Istituto degli Innocenti in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, in Florence.
Opening hours: 3:00pm - 7:00pm, Monday to Friday, and 10:00am - 7:00pm on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. The workshops for children are held only on week-ends.
Admission to the exhibition costs € 6.00, reduced price € 3.00; workshops € 5.00.
Information and booking: tel. +39 055 2478386.
animani@istitutodeglinnocenti.it
www.mariottiafirenze.it