Recognized as a “masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity” by Unesco, the Opera dei pupi, of the legendary Sicilian puppets, is on display. It does so with a didactic-documentary exhibition, Women, heroines and ladies at the Opera dei Pupi. The hundred years of puppetry of the Naples Brothers of Catania, curated by Alessandro Napoli. Organized by Sikarte, to celebrate the Puppets of the Naples Brothers of Catania, founded in 1921 by Don Gaetano Napoli. The exhibition was inaugurated last June 12, by Sikarte in the spaces of Civic Museum of Noto and will continue until October 17. This is the third exhibition event organized in Noto by Sikarte, and the first in partnership with Turnè Sicily (private body that manages the Civic Museum of Noto). The exhibition is sponsored by the Municipality of Noto and the Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum in Palermo.
How the exhibition is organized
The Marionette of the Naples Brothers he lent the works and took care of the scientific and artistic direction. From the Muscà collections (museum of Sicilian cart), instead, comes a selection of posters to advertise the shows. Real works of art, because these signs painted by Rosario Napoli on simple wrapping paper, they promoted the shows in the XNUMXs.
But how is a Pupo built and how is it maneuvered? The exhibition is divided into six sections. You enter the Civic Museum and end up immersed in a path that tells the various stages of the birth of a Sicilian marionette. From the creation of the puppet in the “puppet shop”; to the signs, or advertising posters; to the issues inherent to the repertoire ofPuppet Opera.
The role of women in the puppet opera
The exhibition investigates the figure of the woman. It does so both through the female characters of the Opera and by telling the professionals who have distinguished themselves in this art. Particular attention was paid to Italia Chiesa Napoli: Great interpreter of the female characters of the puppet stories and tireless life and art companion of Natale Napoli, set designer and poster designer. Italia Chiesa passed away in 2018. With him he kept alive the tradition ofOpira in Catania. Active part, unforgettable talker and costume designer.
The last section, in fact, is dedicated to the scenography and the staging, of the backdrops, of the wings, of the costumes.
Sfold Fiorenzo Napoli, the artistic director of the companions founded in 1921 by don Gaetano Napoli. «It is now universally known that the tradition of the Opera dei Pupi, of which the Naples Brothers are illustrious and recognized standard bearers, is one of the most representative brands of identity of the island culture.
The world of “Opira”, the opera of the Catania puppets
Able to renew itself over time. The Marionettistica of the Naples Brothers of Catania has remained active without interruption from 1921 to today. Has exceededo the great crisis that hit the Opera dei Pupi in the fifties - seventies of the last century. In fact, the company has been able to adapt the Catania Opira to the needs of the contemporary public, while remaining faithful to the codes and rules of traditional staging ".
Full of suggestions, adds Alessandro Napoli, scientific curator of the exhibition. «The theatrical world of the Catania Opira has given rise to its own forms of artistic craftsmanship: puppets, sets and signs. These artifacts, to be considered among the most significant products of Sicilian folk art, are the constitutive elements of the so-called mysteries, "craft". That is the set of all the theatrical equipment that allowed the puppeteers to stage their evenings. The Napoli family today preserves the only ancient Catania-style craft that has remained intact and complete. Marionettistica has worked from 1921 to today, making puppets known in Italy and around the world. It is a precious cultural asset of great historical-anthropological interest, acquired, preserved and enriched by the Naples Brothers in their hundred years of activity.».
Women heroines and ladies at the Opera dei Pupi, an educational exhibition
2021, the year of restart, is also what brings the Civic Museum of Noto for the first time to open its rooms to an exhibition of this type. According to the president of the Sicilian cultural association, Graziana Papale: «Sikarte begins a new collaboration with Turnè Sicily and with the Civic Museum of Noto, with the aim of telling the tradition of the Opera dei Pupi and celebrating the centenary of the Puppets of the Naples Brothers of Catania.
This exhibition presents and promotes the great historical - anthropological heritage represented by puppets, posters, backdrops and theatrical sets. Like real artistic installations, they update and tell the strong historical and artistic identity of the Opera dei Pupi. A focus within the exhibition is dedicated to women. Protagonists of the ancient chivalric stories, but also to the women who actively participate in the production and staging of the shows, and therefore costume designers and talkers, among which Italia Chiesa Napoli stands out, an extraordinary interpreter who gave voice to the female characters of the repertoire stories».
The hundred years of puppetry of the Naples Brothers of Catania
After the success recorded with the exhibition on Gattuso, now a new exhibition. An exhibition that brings together the figure of women within one of the greatest traditions of our land. the Opera dei Pupi. This was declared by the Mayor of Noto, Corrado Bonfanti: "We are pleased to find the Sikarte association in Noto in one of the exhibition spaces in which my Administration strongly believes. It does so with elegance and research, transmitting female strength and intelligence, values handed down in the chivalrous narratives of the past. I am very happy that Noto is the protagonist of the centenary of a prestigious family, the Napoli brothers of Catania, and to enhance with this representative exhibition of the Opera dei Pupi one of our assets registered in the Unesc Intangible Heritage list.or".
Setting up of the eco-sustainable exhibition
From the display elements to the didactic panels, here is the eco-sustainable choice of the set-up. The realization of the project was entrusted to a technical partner of the sector: Archicart he modulated the cardboard not only for the technical and didactic supports but also for the realization of the stage reproduction of the puppet theater present in the exhibition. A scenographic element strongly desired and designed by Sikarte.
The catalog is edited by the Villaggio Maori publishing house, the images of the exhibition are enriched by critical texts by Alessandro Napoli and Giuliana Fiori.
The initiative is part of Sector VIII - Tourism and Culture Planning, the Department of Tourism and Entertainment and the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Noto. As part of the "artistic theme" chosen for the year 2021: "Art is a woman".
