Photo Roberta Segata, courtesy Centrale Fies
“There’s something magical about her presence”
The origins and appearance of the unicorn have been questioned and re-imagined through time. This creature without homeland or history has been abused and misinterpreted by each generation, deprived of its right to speak. Italian performer, director and choreographer Chiara Bersani now wants to give the unicorn its own voice, story, and choice.
“I Chiara Bersani, 98cm tall, I self-proclaim the flesh, muscles and bones of the unicorn. As I don’t know it’s heart, I’ll try to give it my breath and my eyes. I declare to give voice to the universal questions that have puzzled it: Why do I exist?, Where do I come from? And if tomorrow you find me in your garden, what would you do?”
Award-winning artist Bersani creates work that forms a dialogue with an eclectic variety of spaces. Her research as an interpreter and author is based on the concept of the ‘Political Body’, considering how the body performs a ‘societal function’ and those that meet it are ‘forced to give it meaning, to interpret it and create expectations around it.’
Sparking attention from the international dance scene, in August 2019 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Seeking Unicorns won the Total Theatre & The Place Award for dance.
Presented by Dance Umbrella in partnership with the National Gallery, with support from the Italian Cultural Institute
Panel Discussion: Dis-rupting the museum
Thu 20 October, 4pm | National Gallery
with Chiara Bersani, Chisato Minamimura, Dalibor Šandor
Our experience of galleries and museums are dominated by normative bodies. But which bodies are not present and what are disabled artists doing to change this?
Free, register now
BSL interpreted
National Gallery, October 2022 | Credit Foteini Christofilopoulou
Cast & Creative +
- Chiara Bersani
Creation / Performance - F. De Isabella
Sound Design - Paolo Tizianel
Stage Manager - Valeria Foti
Technical Director - Luca Poncetta, Gaia Clotilde Chernetih
Dramaturgical Advice - Marta Ciappina
Movement Coach - Marco D’Agostin
Artistic Advice - Elisa Orlandini
Styling - Eleonora Cavallo
Producer - Chiara Fava
Administration - Giulia Traversi
Communications - Roberta Segata courtesy Centrale Fies
Photography
About the Artists +
Chiara Bersani
Photo Giulia Agostini
Chiara Bersani is an Italian performer and author active in the fields of performing arts, research theatre and contemporary dance. As an interpreter and director / choreographer she moves through different languages and visions, touring her work internationally. Her research as an interpreter and author is based on the concept of the ‘Political Body’ and the creation of practices aimed at training its presence and action. Her piece Gentle Unicorn is the manifestation of this research which won Bersani the UBU Award (Italy) for best new actress / performer under 35. In August 2019 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Gentle Unicorn also won first prize in the dance category of the Total Theatre Awards.
Venue & Access Info +
Venue
Address
The National Gallery
Trafalgar Square
London WC2N 5DN
Access information
The National Gallery aims to make access to the paintings enjoyable and welcoming to the widest possible public. There are a range of facilities to help you see the collection, visit exhibitions and come to events.
Visit the National Gallery website for detailed access information.
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