Buona Fortuna #9, from the Buona Fortuna series

Buona Fortuna

In Buona Fortuna, Jorge Mañes Rubio transports us to the mountains of the “Parco Nazionale del Cilento” in the south of Italy, where several isolated villages were abandoned after a series of devastating earthquakes and landslides. Hidden among these ruins, and despite all the decay and destruction, several churches reveal themselves in all their glory. A closer look into Mañes Rubio’s photographs expose empty altars and pedestals; in fact all the relics are missing. This is a direct consequence from the looters and art merchants who took advantage of the devastation and quickly removed centuries-old paintings, sculptures and other sacred relics shortly after the disaster.

Despite all the emptiness and destruction, the images capture these places in all their beauty. A tragic, sublime representation of a fragile yet astounding legacy. With these large colourful prints, almost resembling surreal paintings, the artist invites us to walk into an ephemeral world where opulence and decadence collide. A conflict that seems to take these images beyond their religious or artistic significance. What is the meaning of these contemporary ruins today? If only momentarily, these photographs have brought these places back to life; places we couldn’t even dream of.

In collaboration with Gianluca Tesauro

Buona Fortuna #2, from the Buona Fortuna series

Buona Fortuna #7, from the Buona Fortuna series

Buona Fortuna #8, from the Buona Fortuna series

Buona Fortuna #8 (detail), from the Buona Fortuna series

Buona Fortuna #1, from the Buona Fortuna series

Buona Fortuna #4, from the Buona Fortuna series

Buona Fortuna #10, from the Buona Fortuna series. 

Buona Fortuna #5 and #12, from the Buona Fortuna series

Buona Fortuna #6, from the Buona Fortuna series. The saint in this image was damaged in the earthquake. Because it’s now crooked, its figure would bring bad luck to anyone who would dare to take it home. It was the only relic rubio saw during his entire expedition.

Buona Fortuna #11, from the Buona Fortuna series. An entire fresco missing from the ceiling of this chapel in Italy.

Exhibition view at Initial Gallery, Vancouver

Exhibition view at Initial Gallery, Vancouver

Exhibition view at Initial Gallery, Vancouver

3D model (left) and sculpture (right) at Initial Gallery, Vancouver. 

3D reconstruction of the Madonna di Constantinopoli using the colours from its altar in an abandoned church