LOVELY-RATZ

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.

Ritual

Group exhibithion “ALEA”, Laboratorio Multimedia (held by Daniele Zoico with the collaboration of Eleonora Bonino, IUAV University of Venice
The video focuses on the act of cutting hair, a gesture that carries within symbolic and cultural significance: a sign of resistance, change, and self-transformation.
The space where the haircut takes place, becomes a liminal site, a zone of transformation and uncertainty that opens spaces for self-determination; it is a space that separates the “before” from the “after,” where identity is redefined.
The voiceover is a synthetic voice created with A.I., reading a Palestinian wartime bulletin, inspired by the daily readings held during the academic boycott in support of Free Palestine. This collective ritual of resistance intersects with the ritual dimension of the video, drawing a parallel to the uncertainty and transformation inherent in the liminal phase.
The clips in the video allow the action to be understood and perceived, yet lack a clear logical sequence. This intentional fragmentation enhances the ambiguity between two dimensions, further emphasized by the overexposure applied throughout the video, creating a disconnection from tangible reality.
The video contrasts the care associated with the haircutting ritual and the violence evoked by the wartime bulletin. This tension highlights the fragility and complexity of transitions, questioning the relationship between personal transformation and broader political dimensions.