Mapei Stadium - City of the Tricolour adheres to Parole Parole Parole (Words Words Words) by the artist Elena Mazzi from Reggio Emilia, a collective and participatory project promoted by the Municipality of Reggio Emilia in collaboration with the Nondasola Association to raise awareness of the issue of violence against women through the language of art.
Through intensive work with the community and listening to the territory, the women's words have become images in Elena Mazzi's public work. A wallpaper with a strong graphic texture involving and covering several schools in the area and some symbolic places in the city of Reggio Emilia: the Panizzi Library, the Spazio Gerra, the Anti-Violence Centre - Women's House and now also the Mapei Stadium.
This is the starting point for the initiative entitled “1-1 words in the centre. Against violence against women", promoted by the Mapei Stadium in collaboration with the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, which will be inaugurated with the laying of wallpaper in some key areas of the stadium: the press room and the two public areas in front of the Sassuolo Lounge and the Mapei Lounge.
Those passing through these spaces will first be struck by the colourful wall and its 'pop' graphics. As they get closer, they will discover its hidden message, made up of words and phrases from women who have suffered violence and told their stories.
Laying wallpaper, the Mapei Stadium supports the Nondasola Association, which manages the Anti-Violence Centre - House of Women in Reggio Emilia, strengthening its relationship with the community and the territory.
“The installation of Elena Mazzi's work of art at the Mapei Stadium, and therefore the decision to bring the theme of preventing male violence against women into the world of sport is in my opinion an important result for the city - states Annalisa Rabitti, Councilor for Care of People of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia. This collaboration allows us not only to continue the work of violence prevention that we have been carrying out as a territorial network for years, but also to work directly with young people, i.e. with the boys and girls of the youth teams, starting from the assumption that this is a cultural issue that we must all work on together, building greater individual and collective awareness and responsibility”.
"Since we announced the opening of the Mapei Stadium to culture and the community, we have hosted many events of cultural and social importance in our spaces, often in close collaboration with the Municipality of Reggio Emilia - says Simona Giorgetta, sole administrator of the Mapei Stadium. With the adhesion to Parole Parole Parole by Elena Mazzi and the initiatives that we will promote in the month of November, we take an active part in a project that stimulates reflection and, we hope, can make more and more people aware of the theme of violence against women".
“I am often asked whether contemporary art has any use in society, states Elena Mazzi, an artist from Reggio Emilia and author of the work Parole Parole Parole. I usually answer that I see art as a tool and that, like any tool, it depends on how it is used.
Parole Parole Parole is a very powerful tool that has been used by different communities over the last four years: women, schools, associations, and institutions of various kinds. Today, thanks to the support of the Mapei Stadium, the capacity for action of the Anti-Violence Centre and the Nondasola Association, which carry out a fundamental work for every individual at the basis of our society, is extended. A work of care, growth, and awareness to which I am honoured to be able to contribute".
“Since 1997, our association has managed the Anti-Violence Centre on behalf of the municipality, which has welcomed more than 7000 women since its opening, says Serena Corsi, vice-president of the Nondasola Association. We have long believed that pathways out of violence must go hand in hand with prevention and awareness-raising, with the idea of eradicating male violence in all the areas in which it manifests itself, using languages, including art, capable of reaching and making as many people as possible reflect. This is why we welcomed with joy the donation made by Mapei to our association, as well as the initiative to host the Parole Parole project inside the stadium. It is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the imagery that exists in the world of sport and football in particular regarding relationships, sexuality and gender stereotypes”.
Again with the collaboration of the municipality, the Association and the artist, the initiative will continue with two dates at the Mapei Stadium in November, the month in which the International Day Against Violence Against Women falls:
- Tuesday 12 November: a workshop dedicated to young players of Sassuolo Calcio and Reggiana aimed at reflection and awareness.
- Tuesday 19 November: a conference open to the public on the role that the values of sport can play in spreading a culture of respect and combating violence against women.
The Mapei Stadium thus continues its openness to people and the city in order to make the stadium live beyond the football world, as a community place founded on the values of inclusiveness, participation and respect.
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