A white banner with an alphanumeric code has appeared on the balcony of a building in Bari. It is neither a mystery nor an enigma, the incipit IT makes the nature of the code clear: an IBAN (International Bank Account Number). The plaque on the building explains the reason for this apparition: it is the work of artist Sabino de Nichilo (b. 1972, Bari) who is mainly active in Rome, where he runs the Casa Vuota project, recently included in the Panorama studio visits of the Rome Quadriennale. The work, entitled Iban d’artista, is only activated with the participation of the public, invited to make a bank transfer – even of a symbolic amount – receiving in return the bank transfer receipt signed by the artist, the actual and final result of the project. Some might consider this a clever move, others a genius fundraiser, but it certainly hides behind it a criticism of the Italian art system, which barely manages to feed emerging artists and the various insiders. What do you think? Will you make the transfer?

Sabino de Nichilo, IBAN d’artista, 2024, print on pvc, Installation for the exhibition IL MATTINO HA LORY IN BOCCA 3 | August 28 – September 1, 2024
Bari, Madonnella, via Dalmazia angolo via Spalato, Curated by Francesco Paolo Del Re @the_naked_lunch, Organized by Matteo De Napoli @matteoreinholdde and Loredana Savino @loredana_savino | Photo by Francesco Paolo Del Re @the_naked_lunch