What is CumPanis
The Idea
CumPanis is an independent and migrant project conceived by UnitedArt, which took shape, in its first edition, as a series of events from April 21st to 25th, 2023, in various locations within the village of Fontecchio (AQ), and is now in search of new places to explore and connect.
It's an event that aims to fit into the context of social art and intends to engage participants in an immersive experience exploring the various functions of the human being, both as an individual and in relation to the rest of the community. Its expression is indeed the etymology of the word "companion," which can be literally translated as "those who share the same bread." But what is this bread for a community? What are the essential elements that are shared?
It's an invitation to look beyond the surface of things and to investigate how the masks we wear influence our lives and relationships with others, creating fragmentation that inevitably reflects outwardly. It's an invitation to consider diversity as a positive force and seek a common language to connect communities. The language of bread. It's a call to action to find a way to overcome cultural and social barriers and create a more inclusive and supportive community.
The theme will explore community dynamics through the symbolism of bread, an element that has always been associated with something deep, essential, a sustenance if not even survival, something divine; just like art, which can transcend linguistic and cultural barriers and create a bond among people.
This synthesis between the symbolism of bread and artistic language will find one of its expressions through the self-construction of an earthen oven, representing not only a meeting point and sharing but also that alchemical forge, a place of fusion and transformation; a collective work of art that aims to unite both in its construction and in its use. The long-term goal is to take the project to different locations to explore new recipes of community and connect them through these ovens, which thus become beacons, points of light to attempt to bring greater awareness to some of the dynamics that dominate and govern us.
The inspiration
CumPanis is the expression of an experience that has deep roots in memory, like an echo of childhood memories which, even if they seem gone forever, sometimes come back and can also take shape externally. The inspiration for this project comes from the magic of family Sundays, when the wood-burning oven in the grandparents' house was lit to make bread for the week. And every time, the leftover dough came to life under the hands of us children, creating little men of bread to bake together with the other loaves. CumPanis wants to be a tribute to those Sundays, to village life, to the values of sharing and the community that bread represents.
The artistic journey of CumPanis began with the meeting with Todd Brown, an international artist, and his International Airport in the summer of 2020. From that moment, the journey continued in the village of Fontecchio through the experiences of La Kap and Le Officine, but the real source of inspiration lies in the past, in the beauty of ancient traditions. The research is a return to the origins, to those childhood experiences that have left an indelible mark on the memory.
CumPanis wants to be a place of production and sharing, an oven that transforms itself into a collective work of art, a meeting point, a community experience. The bread here becomes an artistic element, a symbol of sharing and generosity.
A unique experience, a work of art that transcends time and space, to bring to light the beauty of ancient traditions and the need for sharing and community. Through this research, we want to pay homage to the roots of our past, to share them with others and to transmit a message of unity.
The name
The name of the project takes its cue and inspiration from the reading of this letter sent in 2007 by Mario Rigoni Stern as a greeting to the Veneto A.N.P.I. Congress and which reads:
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Dear Companions,
yes, Companions, because it is a beautiful and ancient name that we must not leave in disuse; derives from the Latin "cum panis" which unites those who eat the same bread. Those who do so also share existence with all that it entails: joy, work, struggle and even suffering.
Companions is much more beautiful than "Comrades" as those who frequent the same place to sleep are called, and also of "Comrades in arms" who are comrades in arms.
Well, we of the Resistance are Companions because we shared bread when we were hungry but also, together, lived the bread of freedom which is most difficult to conquer and keep.
Today that, as Primo Levi said, we have a warm house and a full belly, we seem to have solved the problem of existence and we sit down to doze in front of the television.
Alert Companions!
It's not the time to pick up a weapon but not to disarm the brain yet, and the weapon of reason is more difficult to use than violence. Let us meditate on what has been and let us not be flattered by a civilization that offers ever more beautiful motor vehicles and ever more undressed girls for everyone. Others are the problems of our society: peace, of course, but also a job for everyone, the freedom to study, a peaceful old age; not only selfishly for us, but also for all citizens. So as in the fundamental rights of our Constitution born of the Resistance.
My greetings to you, Companions of the National Association of Italian Partisans and Resistance always.
Yours, Mario Rigoni Stern
(Silver Medal for Military Valor)
January 20, 2007