Tuscany has always been a fertile place for art. Today, as in the Renaissance, this is a land of sculptors, poets and artists of all kinds and many of them have made the street their natural canvas, decorating squares, buildings, road signs and abandoned places.
In this article, we’d like to introduce you to some of the works and artists who are advancing the theme of inclusiveness through street art.
Contents
1.
"Altri Colori" by Luchadora - Palarotelle (Florence)
2.
"Condominio dei Diritti" by Jorit (Florence)
3.
"TUTTOMONDO" by Keith Haring (Pisa)
4.
Signs by Clet
"Altri Colori" by Luchadora - Palarotelle (Florence)
Altri Colori by Luchadora - Palarotelle (Florence) - Credit: Opera propria
"Altri Colori" is an urban art project that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community through its colours. The large mural covering the outside walls of the Palarotelle in Florence features a number of flags: those of the trans, intersex, pan, polysexual and of course the rainbow flag in the classic 6-colour version.
The work was created for Pride Month 2021 by the Tuscan artist Luchadora and was created in collaboration with Street Levels Gallery, the A testa alta E.T.S cultural association, Arcigay Firenze and Altre Sponde APS.
We remain in Florence, but this time we move to Piazza Leopoldo. Here we can find a large mural depicting Nelson Mandela entitled "Condominio dei Diritti". The work was created by Jorit, a Neapolitan artist who is now one of the most famous Italian street artists in the world.
The figure of Nelson Mandela is associated with the end of apartheid in South Africa and the Nobel Peace Prize. But despite what many people know, Mandela made civil rights his all-round battle: it’s thanks to him that today South Africa is the only country on the African continent to have equal marriage.
The work was created in 2018 at the initiative of the Mandela Forum association, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the South African leader’s birth.
"TUTTOMONDO" by Keith Haring (Pisa)
Tuttomondo by Keith Haring - Credit: Opera propria
From Florence, we arrive in Pisa to discover the mural created in 1989 on the outside wall of the rectory of the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate. Haring has been one of the most influential artists in the world and in his works he has often dealt with themes close to LGBTQ+ people, especially the fight against AIDS and the disease’s stigma.
"TUTTOMONDO" is located in the Piazzetta Haring in Pisa and is one of the places to visit during the historical walk into Pisa to discover Italian LGBTQ+ culture.
Signs by Clet
Clet's Rainbow Heart - Credit: Courtesy of Clet @cletabraham
Once in Tuscany, you’ll often see road signs that have been modified to perfection. They’re the work of Clet Abraham, a French street artist who lives in Florence and creates his works around the world.
On the road signs, you can see representations of Donatello’s David, and also funny faces, little men playing musical instruments and rainbow hearts. To find his works, many of which are LGBTQ+ themed, all you have to do is take a walk through the historic centre of the main Tuscan cities, but to be sure to find a rainbow heart, we recommend going to Piazza Mentana in Florence.
