Alfredo Jaar. The Ashes of Pasolini

Created in 2009 by Alfredo Jaar, The Ashes of Pasolini is a short film commemorating the life of the famous Italian filmmaker, writer and thinker Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922-1975) who was assassinated under mysterious circumstances.

Featuring interviews and film excerpts that speak to Pasolini’s stormy life and unwavering leftist political commitment, dearly paid for on many occasions, The Ashes of Pasolini, an allusion to the The Ashes of Gramsci, a famous poem by Pasolini, is a perfect example of Alfredo Jaar’s commitment to the struggle against ignorance and repression. In his quest to raise public awareness and make us reconsider the world in a new light, the world acclaimed Chilean artist speaks freely, passionately and unequivocally, taking us into the unique and turbulent world of a great man of letters and cultural figure. Bringing together the specific properties of the film medium and the far-reaching thoughts and ideas of the famous Italian filmmaker and poet, Jaar creates a sensitive and very moving work.

Alfredo Jaar was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1956. He has been living and working in New York for the past thirty years. The work of this artist, architect and filmmaker has a decidedly communicational orientation whose aim is to make us think about social and political issues. Jaar’s work has been widely exhibited, and was featured in such important artistic events as the Venice Biennial (1986 and 2007), the Istanbul Biennial (1995) and the Liverpool Biennial (2010). Jaar was awarded both a Guggenheim and a MacArthur Fellowship, and in 2006 he won the Premio Extremadura a la Creación, one of the most prestigious prizes awarded in Spain in recognition of a significant contribution to culture.

Alfredo Jaar
The Ashes of Pasolini
Kuratorin: Gaetane Verna