ALTARPIECES, 2021 - Ongoing
“For the project Altarpieces, groups of LGBTQI+ people of different nationalities are invited to use swatches of their own clothing to sew homobitranspan(+)phobic insults on as many pieces of cloth as there are countries, in all the languages of the world. An ephemeral community without borders or laws, founded by a shared experience of abjection. Outside space and time and yet here and now – like a revolution, like a miracle. Martyrs. Remains. Or, aptly, debris. That’s who, that’s what: perverts of the world, unite!”
Lorenzo Bernini
within the exhibition "Black with love, intact as a flower"
with Nazim Ünal Yilmaz curated by Övül Durmuşoğlu
For this occasion, we have shown the first 8 Altarpieces from France, Turkey, Brazil, U.S.A., Iran, Mexico, Poland and Italy. Made in different institutions in these Countries, or working with people belonging to the diaspora, or in some cases working remotely with our siblings, all the works have been finalized by students at Royal School of Needlework in London.
Although the project is hosted within a commercial gallery, all these works ARE NOT for sale.
Altarpieces, 2024
Installation view at Galleria Michela Rizzo, Venice
ph Ela Bialkowska, OKNOstudio
Altarpieces involves anyone who recognizes themselves within the LGBTQI+ community of every nation in the world (including sovereign and non-sovereign states) to sew homobitranspan(+) phobic insults on a banner (one per nation) using swatches of their own clothing. The use of one's clothing is due to the desire to create an authentic work, imbued with first hand experiences and testimonies of homobitranspan(+)phobia.
Alongside his performances and textile works, Montini has begun producing some collective projects in which he strives to involve the public in the production of temporary monuments and of rituals to create ephemeral memorials for the LGBTQ+ community.
Altarpieces - Mexico, 2024
Installation view at Salón Silicòn, Mexico City
ph Mattia Ozzy B.
Altarpieces -USA, 2024
Installation view at The Rotunda, Philadelphia PA
organized by Penn University
ph Mattia Ozzy B.
Altarpieces - Poland, 2021
Installation view at NOMUS, New Art Museum, Gdánsk
ph Bogna Kociumbas
Altarpieces - Italy, 2021
Installation view at Italian Twist, Gallerie delle Prigioni, Treviso
ph Ela Bialkowska, OKNOstudio