# L’Atelier dell’Errore in mostra. Atelier dell’Errore: On Exhibit | Luca Santiago Mora | TEDxLakeComo Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDBiYJr1D2Y Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/LDBiYJr1D2Y Generated: 2025-12-04T16:41:25.897+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Luca Santiago Mora, founder of L'Atelier dell'Errore, discusses the collective's mission to embrace error and imperfection, highlighting their collaborative artistic process which involves 12 neurodivergent artists who create monumental works based on ancient myths and concepts like the Oedipus myth, all while maintaining a commitment to non-aggressive, positive artistic expression. **Key Points:** - Luca Santiago Mora founded L'Atelier dell'Errore (The Atelier of Error) in 2002, initially working with artists from psychiatric areas in Reggio Emilia and later expanding to include artists from professional fields in Rome and Milan. - The collective currently comprises 12 artists, including those with nicknames like Giangi Giangetto, GB7, Scotland Yard, Miki Raster, July Shining, Garibaldi, Smegel, Mozzy, The Gamer, Pitbull, Sid, and Giorgia Ballabeni. - The collective's philosophy is rooted in finding beauty and artistic value in mistakes and imperfections, exemplified by the giant, gold-leaf covered artwork inspired by the myth of Oedipus, which the speaker states they were not supposed to create. - Mora recounts that the artists, lacking masks, were initially scared of the exhibition's explicit content, but they ultimately created works that were often 'sublime' and contained potent sexual imagery, such as the 'Hypersexual Aphrodite' piece. - The artists consciously avoid aggression, believing that the desire for perfection, often associated with explicit themes, is better channeled through art that embraces imperfection, contrasting with the perfection sought in contemporary art. - The group developed a collaborative approach, creating a 22-meter long, 1.5-meter high artwork using silk and carbon fiber, which they titled 'The Gold-Leafed Animals' after the fire that destroyed the original work. - The collective's work is now being exhibited internationally, demonstrating their success in finding value in what society often discards or ignores. ![Screenshot at 00:13: Luca Santiago Mora is introduced as the founder of L'Atelier dell'Errore, displayed on screen next to a striking visual representation of the speaker, setting the stage for the discussion on art and imperfection.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LDBiYJr1D2Y/00-00-13.png) **Context:** This video features an interview at TEDxLakeComo with Luca Santiago Mora, the founder of L'Atelier dell'Errore (The Atelier of Error), an artistic collective primarily composed of neurodivergent artists. The discussion centers on the collective's philosophy of embracing imperfection and error in art, chronicling their journey from humble beginnings to international recognition through large-scale, collaborative works inspired by classical mythology and contemporary issues. ## Detailed Analysis Luca Santiago Mora, founder of L'Atelier dell'Errore, recounts the history and philosophy of his collective. Established in 2002, the group initially consisted of artists from psychiatric services in Reggio Emilia, later expanding to include professionals from art, architecture, and design fields in Rome and Milan. The core principle of the atelier is the celebration of error and imperfection, which Mora suggests is often where true value lies, contrasting with the pursuit of perfection often seen in the contemporary art world. He describes the collective's growth, noting they now number 12 artists, all of whom have nicknames like Garibaldi, Smegel, and The Gamer. Mora shares anecdotes about their work, including creating a monumental 22-meter artwork using gold leaf inspired by the myth of Oedipus, and the controversy surrounding a piece titled 'Sexy Aphrodite' which featured overt sexual imagery that some members initially feared presenting. He explains that the artists have developed a unique visual language, often focusing on creatures or concepts that society overlooks or deems 'ugly' or 'sexual,' such as insects or the mythological figure of Eros/Thanatos. A significant achievement mentioned was their participation in the Venice Biennale with an installation called 'The Gold-Leafed Animals,' which ironically featured large, golden insect-like figures, a concept that helped them gain international credibility. Mora emphasizes that despite the challenging subject matter and the initial fears of the artists, the collective's collaborative process, which is often intense and demanding, ultimately leads to rewarding results, like the successful installation displayed in a gallery setting. ### The Atelier dell'Errore - Founded in 2002, started with artists from psychiatric areas in Reggio Emilia, later expanded to include professionals from art/design fields in Rome and Milan - The collective now has 12 members with stage names like GB7, July Shining, and Scotland Yardo - Their philosophy focuses on embracing error, imperfection, and subjects society often ignores. ### Key Works and Themes - Discussed the 'Atelier dell'Errore' exhibition in Bergamo featuring a poster with a masked figure - Showcased an artwork inspired by the myth of Oedipus, which was ironically created despite initial apprehension - Mentioned a large-scale work featuring golden insect-like figures and another depicting 'Sexy Aphrodite' as examples of explicit yet powerful art. ### Recognition and Collaboration - The collective was invited to exhibit at the Venice Biennale, a significant moment that validated their approach - They developed a large-scale piece (22 meters) on sailcloth, later recreated on gold leaf - The artists are described as having a 'non-aggressive' approach, contrasting with the hyper-perfection often demanded in art. ### Personal Anecdotes - Mora shared a personal story about an art piece being destroyed in an apartment fire, leading to the creation of a new, even larger work - He noted that the artists sometimes struggle with their own powerful imagery, like the explicit nature of the 'Eros/Thanatos' piece, but that the work itself is powerful. ### Conclusion and Future - The discussion concluded with the group receiving an invitation to the G.A.M.E.C. exhibition in New York and the success of their work being recognized internationally, proving the value of their unique, error-embracing perspective. ![Screenshot at 00:04: TEDxLakeComo opening slide displaying sponsor logos including Autoluce, Cassa Lombarda, Flex-Box, Pinto, Promeco, Rivauto, and Villa Erba.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LDBiYJr1D2Y/00-00-04.png) ![Screenshot at 00:13: Luca Santiago Mora is introduced on screen with his name and title, 'Fondatore dell'ADE', set against a vibrant, abstract background.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LDBiYJr1D2Y/00-00-13.png) ![Screenshot at 00:43: The audience watches as an image of a pair of large, stylized sneakers is displayed on the main screen behind the two speakers.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LDBiYJr1D2Y/00-00-43.png) ![Screenshot at 02:20: Luca Santiago Mora explains a point while the screen behind shows a drawing of a creature with multiple legs, illustrating the themes discussed.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LDBiYJr1D2Y/00-02-20.png) ![Screenshot at 03:54: A wide shot shows the stage setup with the two speakers seated, while the large screen displays several artists from the collective in a collage format against a red and black background.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/LDBiYJr1D2Y/00-03-54.png)