Lola Bonora (1935)
Italy
Biography :
"Lola Bonora is an Italian contemporary art critic and curator.
In 1972, within the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art of Ferrara, she created the Videoarte Center of Palazzo dei Diamanti, with the collaboration of Carlo Ansaloni as assistant director and Giovanni Grandi as audiovisual technician. Furthermore, in 1977, a multipurpose room was opened in the Civic Gallery which hosts various initiatives on video art.
In 1973 the Centre's production of artist videotapes began with "Acquabiografico" by Fabrizio Plessi, with music by Kristina Kubisch and the creation of Bonora herself, Ansaloni and Grandi.
In 1975 the Center hosted the “Third International Open Encounter on Video” organized by the Centro de Arte y Comunicación (CAyC) of Buenos Aires and curated by Jorge Glusberg, accompanied by an international exhibition of videotapes curated by Bonora.
During her direction of the Center, numerous artist videos, video documentations of performances and events and educational videos were produced. There are many artists who work at Palazzo dei Diamanti creating works with videotape; among these: Maurizio Bonora, Maurizio Camerani, Giorgio Cattani, Claudio Cintoli, Giuliano Giuman, Kristina Kubisch, Federica Marangoni, Enzo Minarelli, Cristiana Moldi Ravenna, Fabrizio Plessi, Gretta Sarfaty, Guido Sartorelli.
Bonora participates in the creation of artist videotapes and creates some as an author (such as "Respectable People", 1977).
Furthermore, during the Seventies and Eighties, she curated, organized and coordinated numerous initiatives, festivals, reviews and exhibitions dedicated to Italian and international video art promoted by the Videoarte Centre. Among the best known events are: “U-tape”, from 1982 to 1990; “Videoset”, an annual exhibition of video sculptures from 1985 to 1990, later replaced by “Poliset”, which ended in 1993; “The electronic image” from 1984 to 1988 in Bologna, and from 1989 to 1991 in Ferrara.
In 1980 the Videoarte Center began a collaboration with New York University, for which it created some video art courses aimed at students of the Graduate Program.
Bonora directed the Videoarte Center until 1994.
In 2004, he curated the collective exhibition “Andata e storia. Contemporary artists between Europe and America" as part of the eleventh edition of the Biennale Donna di Ferrara, the thirteenth edition of the Biennale Donna at Palazzo Massari (Ferrara) in 2008 and the fifteenth edition in 2012 together with Silvia Cinelli.
Lola Bonora is an Italian contemporary art critic and curator.
In 1972 she set up, at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Ferrara, the Centro Videoarte di Palazzo dei Diamanti collaborating with Carlo Ansaloni as executive assistant and Giovanni Grandi as AV technician. In 1977, in the Galleria Civica, the Sala Polivalente (a multi purpose hall) opened that hosted many video art events. In 1973, the Centro Videoarte began the production of artists’ videotapes with “Acquabiografico” (Waterbiographic) by Fabrizio Plessi, with music by Kristina Kubisch, and produced by Bonora, herself, along with Ansaloni and Grandi.
In 1975 the Centro Videoarte hosted the “Third International Open Encounter on Video”, organised by the Centro de Arte y Comunicación (CAyC) in Buenos Aires and curated by Jorge Glusberg. It was accompanied by an international exhibition of video works curated by Bonora. During her tenure as Director of the centre, many artists’ video works were produced, as well as video recordings of performances, events and educational videos. Some of the artists who worked at Palazzo dei Diamanti, making videotapes, were: Maurizio Bonora, Maurizio Camerani, Giorgio Cattani, Claudio Cintoli, Giuliano Giuman, Kristina Kubisch, Federica Marangoni, Enzo Minarelli, Cristiana Moldi Ravenna, Fabrizio Plessi, Gretta Sarfaty and Guido Sartorelli. Bonora directly participated in the making of the videotapes and made some herself, such as “Respectable People, 1977. During the 1970s and 1980s, she curated, organised and coordinated many events, festivals, screenings and exhibitions dedicated to Italian and international video art promoted by Centro Videoarte. Among the most relevant events were: “U-tape”, from 1982 al 1990; “Videoset”, annual exhibition of video sculptures from 1985 to 1990, later substituted by “Poliset”, that ended in 1993; “L’immagine elettronica” from 1984 to 1988 in Bologna, and from 1989 to 1991 in Ferrara. From 1980, there was a collaboration set up between the Centro Video Arte and New York University, where the centre organised video art courses, for students on the Graduate Programme.
Bonora directed the Centro Videoarte until 1994.
In 2004 she curated the group exhibition “Andata e ritorno. Artiste contemporanee tra Europa e America” for the 11th edition of the Biennale Donna in Ferrara, in 2008 the 13th edition of Biennale Donna in Palazzo Massari (Ferrara) and in 2012 the 15th edition with Silvia Cinelli."
(Source, website, Rewind)
Work :
- ABC Video (1977)