The visionary power of artistic stories in Sardinia

Alice Guerrieri

2022-01-01

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Abstract

«The narrative begins with the history of mankind; nowhere has there ever been a people without stories» (Barthes 1966). The uplifting power of stories has always been known, and also the persuasiveness of images. By weaving the threads of ancient legends and creating tales of identity Maria Lai, Sardinia’s most famous artist, has been able to renovate the language of art. Through the analysis of her creations this paper intends to reflect on the effectiveness of visual narratives, with reference to the theory of the iconic act (Bredekamp 2010) and theories of figurative language (Aristotle; Wittgenstein 1953). Tenendo per mano l’ombra, for example, is a stitched fairy tale that metaphorically recounts the journey of life. Legarsi alla montagna has been a participatory practice involving the inhabitants of the village of Ulassai, who have been ‘tied’ by a blue ribbon to the mountain and to their homes with the aim of mending their relations: the people became living images and agents, themselves works of art. Since «Art takes us by the hand» (Lai 2003), artistic and narrative language are similar, helping people to reconstruct the meaning of life and «dressing up» with an imagination that identifies with «the soul of the world» (Calvino 1988).