Paradise, from the Persian pairadaëza, from which also the Hebrew pardeš, through the Greek παράδεισος, with the original meaning of “enclosed garden”, “orchard”, “park”. There was a time when the world was inhabited by gods. In the space human beings shared with them, the invisible mingled with visible matter. It was in gardens, in nature, unsettling and marvellous, that from the dawn of time humans sensed the presence of the divine.
Pairadaëza #Mattatoio by Antonio Tagliarini is an invitation to enter a garden, a paradise recreated and open to exploration, where imagining a collective action capable of transforming it becomes possible.
Like a botanist-landscaper, Antonio Tagliarini chooses a garden, studies it through multiple approaches, from the most scientific to the most magical. He deepens his knowledge of its history and origins, takes note of its plant species and the fragility of the soil. He meets its inhabitants, those who guard it and those who tend it, and asks to be told its stories, legends, secrets. Then he seeks to make space for the invisible: layering these stories over his own biography, he will welcome the audience by recounting his garden, his paradise, where reality and imagination coexist and give substance to one another. The attempt is to create a temporary community called not only to rediscover the mystery of that place, but to activate its transformation — to imagine together a different future, a site of political and existential resistance.
Paradise is not only a garden — it has always been depicted and imagined as such — but also a symbolic dimension, the reflection of a social utopia: a pure place where all are free and equal, where neither injustice nor violence exists. “How far are we from paradise?” the artist asks.
Antonio Tagliarini is an author, performer and director. His first love, and consequently his training, are performing art and contemporary dance, which deeply mark his relationship with the stage. Only later, he begins to study and delve into the more strictly theatrical art. He creates and performs in several shows and performances that have been presented in many Italian and international festivals. From 2008 to 2022, he was part of the Deflorian/Tagliarini company together with Daria Deflorian. They produce training projects, site-specific projects and performances, presented in important Italian and European theatres and festivals and win important awards including: Premio Ubu as best dramaturgical innovation (2014); Critics’ Prize as best foreign show in Quebec, Canada with the show Ce ne andiamo per non darvi altre preoccupazioni (2015); Premio Riccione for dramaturgy (2019); Premio Hystrio for dramaturgy (2021). Amongst the other encounters and collaborations: Miguel Pereira, Idoia Zabaleta, Ambra Senatore, Jaime Conde Salazar and Filipe Viegas. He works as a performer with: Raffaella Giordano, Giorgio Rossi,Massimiliano Civica, Alessandro Brucioni, Fabrizio Arcuri, Lotte Van den Berg. He leads masterclasses, workshops and mentoring projects for performers, directors and visual artists.
a project by and with Antonio Tagliarini
care and management Carlotta Garlanda / Klm
ph. Asia Serpe