What is the past? And why does it keep resurfacing in the present with, sometimes, the most unexpected forms? These questions apply to both our lives as individuals, communities, nations, and even the global population. To answer them, I go beyond the necessary scientific publications, seeking collaborations with creative professionals, human activists, artists, poets, museum curators.
From this urge to reach a wider public via different means, springs my collaboration with the extraordinary institution of the Museum of Broken Relationships, located in Zagreb, Croatia. As part of my Marie Curie Fellowship, the four years long collaboration with the museum has produced the curatorship of the following two exhibitions.
“Shards of the Past, Meanings of the Present”
Venice, August – October 2023
This exhibition brings together ancient archaeological exhibits from Roman-period Sardinia and contemporary exhibits from the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, as well as artifacts from the profession of archaeologists.
Through this juxtaposition of objects from different times and contexts, we aim to: giving relevance to everyday objects usually overlooked in traditional historical narratives; reconstruct the micro-histories of lesser-known women and men who have been overshadowed by the dominant narratives that too frequently focus on masculine elites. Our focus lies on the subalterns and their social relationships, as well as their physical bodies, as sites of power, creative action, memory, and resistance. Join us in this journey through time to witness more collective, diverse, inclusive histories.
On display are photographs, drawings, and 3D reproductions of artifacts from Roman period Sardinia, where my project IDENTIS focuses, including objects that reflect the daily lives of likely enslaved individuals and other subaltern groups such as peasants and shepherds, for instance the reconstruction of the grave 43 B from Maullas, west central Sardinia. Alongside ancient finds are objects from the Museum of Broken Relationships that represent the impact of societal norms and power dynamics on intimate relationships, such as the this coin from Alta, Norway, and this fragment of pavement with inscribed initials from Pittsburgh, United States.
Enjoy your visit!
“Shards of the Past, Meanings of the Present”
Venice, August – October 2023
“Sardinnia e Mundu: Memòria, Corus, Passàu, Presenti”
Masullas (Sardinia) September 2024 – March 2025
Born as a continuation of Shards of the Past, Sardinnia e Mundu aims to engage primarily with the rural communities of central Sardinia. Through the exhibition, I brought back to the island archaeological artefacts and stories originally from there, placing them in dialogue with contemporary objects and narratives from Sardinia and beyond.
One example of this curatorship idea is the the interaction of human-animal stories across different eras: The image below features a Roman period brick imprinted with a distinctive paw print, discovered during my survey in Masullas in 2021. This ancient traces intertwines with the stories of Pandina and Argo—two dogs whose lives are represented through the materiality of their chain and tooth, generously donated to us by the wonderful Macomer-based shelter, Facedog.
Imperial Roman period.
Masullas, Roman Province of Sardinia.
This fragment of Roman period brick, found during the
first of three archaeological survey seasons held in
November 2021, has a dog’s paw print impressed on
its surface.
Mauro Puddu 