LOVELY-RATZ About

Projects Overview
Bio
Linda Pietrobelli (2001) and Ambra Zamengo (2002) are currently pursuing their Bachelor's degree in Multimedia Arts at IUAV University of Venice. In 2023, they formed the collective “LOVELY-RATZ”, born from the desire to work together, engaging with the dimension of “the other” and considering it as necessary for the development of thought.

Statement
By combining performance and photography in the analysis of human dynamics—with a particular focus on interpersonal relationships and social roles—their artistic research seeks to privilege queer and transfeminist perspectives, placing people at the center of both the artistic project and the work itself. They intertwine aesthetics and conceptual inquiry to create spaces for dialogue and reflection, fostering empathetic connections.
   Their artistic practice builds visual and theoretical connections through performative practices and bodily gestures: through these, they explore how the body interacts with its surrounding space, reinterpreting and shaping the environment through itself and its own perception.
  In the pursuit of a pre-practical emotional dialogue, their interest lies in understanding relational dynamics through a psychological and anthropological approach, which allows them to explore and communicate the complexities of places, individuals, and communities. From this arises their interest in connecting territory, nature, and people through expressive means such as photography, performance, and other artistic media.

Lookalikes




    performance, photography
    2023 - ongoing

Group exhibithion “supportovivo”, Spazio Punch, Venice 2024
Lookalikes is a performative practice where unknown men (he/him pronouns) of different ages are invited to confront concepts of identity, authenticity, and resemblance.
   Resemblance can be interpreted in various ways and can be influenced by a range of factors, including physical, gestural, vocal, and behavioral characteristics. The practice analyzes the subjective interpretation of the men involved, who are asked a question that admits only two possible answers:

"Linda or Ambra, who do you resemble?"

Following their response, they are asked to assume the identity of the chosen person, creating an identity transfer through the act of wearing the clothes that person has on.  This gesture explores the possibility of resembling a stranger, reflecting on the meaning of "wearing someone else's shoes," on the elements that constitute the identity of two different people, and what determines their resemblance.
   The practice takes place inside the homes of the men involved: they explore the identity of another person while maintaining their own, remaining in their personal, intimate, and private space, which is made accessible to two strangers. Through a self-certification document confirming the participation of over 20 men, it is possible to retrieve their personal data, further breaking the boundary that identifies them as strangers.
   In the context of the performance, two people with different physical and ethnic characteristics offer themselves as the object of choice. This initiates a dialogue about the nature of choice itself, highlighting the complexity of visual and cultural identity, how people can perceive each other, and the criteria that define resemblance.


print on photographic paper 20 x 27 cm / print on A4 sheets