subjective displays for a collection
by Arnisa Zeqo and Antonia Carrara

15 - 30 January 2011

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The figure of the dilettante has long been read as cultivating an area of interest without real commitment or knowledge. Indeed the word dilettante comes from "dilettare", taking delight into things. A pejorative veil has long embraced this figure. He/she seems to be interested in everything and yet, nothing in particular. As a non-professional, the naivety of his/hers researches becomes embarrassing, no matter how deep the knowledge.
As professionalism eats up time and space with giant bites, the solitary and almost cretinist role of the dilettante stands dispersed; torn between collecting and copying,a Dostoyevsky’s Prince Myshkin wannabe, filled with urging oblomovian torments.
Feeling empathy with this character, we wish to present a very subjective and amateuristic display of a shared collection.

AZ / AC


For two gross of broken statues,
For a few thousand battered books.

Ezra Pound

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