Mitico – Yoan Capote

Nuova tappa del progetto Mitico della Galleria Continua di San Gimignano.

Comunicato stampa

High up in the Taormina Hills, Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel offers a front row on the eternal island’s beauty. Here,
artist Yoan Capote installs a selection of sculptures, including handcuffs encircling an olive tree, entitled “Stress”, “Self-
portrait”, “Speechless”, “On our shoulders”, “Deriva”, and “Urban Nature”. These will be showcased throughout the hotel’s
expansive gardens overlooking the force of nature that is Mount Etna volcano. In this environment, it’s impossible not
to feel the full creative and destructive forces at play. These works represent acts of resistance, moments where human
instinct is to revolt in the face of neglect or domination by global forces.
On the beautiful shores of Taormina Mare, Villa Sant’Andrea, A Belmond Hotel, will display Yoan Capote’s “Family Portrait
(installation), an ode to the artist’s own heritage. Hailing from Cuba, he portrays the sea as a force of both connection and
isolation - a means of escape but also a barrier to do so. The work, consisting of mirrors framed that encase and reflect the
private Bay’s unique marina landscape, as the fragments bounce off the beautiful sea bed, the reflections intertwine with
the pristine nature, opening up questions of identity and belonging.
The work also alludes to the song ‘Foto de familia’ by Carlos Varela, one of the most emblematic songs for Yoan Capote’s
generation in Cuba, which bravely reminds the viewer of the many different connotations and sentiments evoked by the
sea. It is a painful reminder that the sea - a symbol of joy, beauty and calm for many - is also a place of tragedy, loss and
despair. Viewers will be encouraged to feel compassion and empathy when contemplating the powerful work.
The art installation will be available to view by guests and visitors alike, from 12 May until the end of October 2023 at
Villa Sant’Andrea, and until 7 January 2024 at Grand Hotel Timeo.