In the summer of 2022, the year of almost coming out of Covid, Sanguemisto prepared four performances that took place over two months, July and August, as part of the by now customary Estate Fiorentina. These were more agile productions, yet still demanding, since—as always—they sought to bring together different languages, styles, and artistic contributions.
“Cerotti sul cuore” is one of these.
On the evening of August 31, Sanguemisto’s summer concluded with Plasters on the Heart, staged at Florence’s Parco dell’Anconella. Once again, the book I Was Searching for the End of the Sea by Martina Castigliani served as inspiration: “Cerotti sul cuore” is, in fact, the phrase written as a caption in one of the drawings made by children in refugee camps in Greece. On stage, theatrical actions, songs, and dances unfolded, enriched by voices, drawings, and images that came directly from the refugee camps—one of the tragic outcomes of today’s migrations and wars. A parallel exhibition of images and drawings accompanied the event. The subtitle reminded us: “A performance against all wars.”
To continue saying no to wars and shipwrecks at sea may seem like a useless exercise in idealism, since in our times wars and deaths at sea are increasing and becoming ever more tragic. But no! Even at the risk of being considered foolish, we have the duty to bear this testimony, if only for the future—for those who will come after us.