È AMORE. O È FOLLIA? COCORICÒ 1991–1992

Marsèll returns to its cultural activity by supporting an independent project that shines a light on a time and place in the history of Italian nightlife, which achieved international cult status and deserved to be documented. On 9 July 2020, the book È amore. o è follia? Cocoricò 1991–1992 was presented between the real and symbolic hours of midday and midnight. Curated by Jacopo Lega and edited by Turin-based group Amphibia, the book presents a selection of original material from the personal archive of Ferruccio Belmonte, creative director of Cocoricò from 1990 to 1993. The final copies of the book are now available at Marsèll Paradise, along with a series of limited-edition t-shirts to celebrate the tour.

The book – A4 size, 112 pages, 300 numbered copies, hand bound and printed in Turin – was presented during the seventh edition of SPRINT and a real “tour” was organised to promote it, enjoying support from different Italian realities. Its final date took place at Via Privata Rezia 2 in Milan, with a talk involving Ferruccio Belmonte, Jacopo Lega and Yorgos Angeletopoulos [Amphibia] and an exhibition, which was on view until 31 July 2020.

The exhibition held in the basement of Marsèll Paradise was an immersive experience that offered a glimpse inside the universe of the world-famous club. Some new productions by Amphibia were also on display, such as a fabric banner designed with the names and dates of Cocoricò’s different rooms and a detail of one of the book images, the stylised reconstruction of one of the club’s symbols, the white swing hanging beneath the pyramid, and an immersive site-specific installation of laser lights and fog, which divided the space to create a metaphoric threshold between the “dimension substance”. Alongside these installations, a display with original materials such as flyers, newspaper clippings, small objects from Ferruccio Belmonte’s personal archive and the video House Train (60’) by Roberto Spallacci, a rare VHS document that bears witness to the experience of the disco-train that twice linked Turin to Riccione in 1991.

The talk and subsequent events (16 July – book review, and 23 July 23rd — DJ set) were not open to the public due to the Coronavirus emergency but are available on the Marsèll Paradise Twitch channel.

Amphibia

Amphibia is an artistic platform that spans the intersection of nocturnal entertainment and visual research. In addition to hosting local and international artists, it focuses on printed matter and solid aesthetics, in an attempt to understand and expand the charm of today’s cultural experience.

Ferruccio Belmonte

Ferruccio Belmonte is one of the most emblematic characters of Riviera and Northern Italy entertainment culture. Insatiable researcher of experiences, he began his career as the artistic director of Cocoricò from 1990 to 1993 and then continued to the Tenax in Florence, the Love Planet in Rimini and the Echoes of Misano Adriatico.

Roberto Spallacci

Roberto Spallacci has been operating in the world of music and entertainment since 1980, with various roles and experiences. Among others, he founded the Latin Superb Posse with Lorenzo Betetto and Joe Costa in 1986 in Turin, and he is the co-founder, with Sergio Ricciardone and Giorgio Valletta, of Associazione Situazione Xplosiva and C2C Festival.

SPRINT Milano—Independent Publishers and Artists’ Books Salon

SPRINT Milano—Independent Publishers and Artists’ Books Salon is a non-profit artist-led platform devoted to research multiple forms in which content, support and languages are articulated in publishing. Since 2013 the main event features an Art Book Fair and a collateral Public Program. SPRINT 8th edition will take place on 27–28–29 November 2020.