Carla Lonzi and the Female Revolution

Female revolution manifesto and the first Italian feminist groups

Taci, anzi parla, Oggetto 658 ([1977 - 1978 ca.]) by Lonzi CarlaLa Galleria Nazionale

Shut up, or rather speak

"Shut up, or rather speak. Diary of a feminist" is the diary kept by Carla Lonzi between 1972 and 1977. In it, she traces the stages of her life by bringing out her political commitment as a feminist.

Taci, anzi parla, Oggetto 698 ([1977 - 1978 ca.]) by Lonzi CarlaLa Galleria Nazionale

The book starts from the breakdown of her friendship with Carla Accardi, who did not give up her artistic career in the name of feminism, and from her disillusionment and subsequent detachment from the world of artists.

Taci, anzi parla, Oggetto 342 ([1977 - 1978 ca.]) by Lonzi CarlaLa Galleria Nazionale

She therefore exposes positions opposite to what she had previously stated in Autoritratto, probably also due to the poor reception of her ideas among artists.

Taci, anzi parla, Oggetto 599 ([1977 - 1978 ca.]) by Lonzi CarlaLa Galleria Nazionale

According to Carla Lonzi, Accardi identified with a myth of art that did nothing but repeat already established social roles.

Therefore, Lonzi changes her conception of the artist, whom she first exalted as authentic and free, and who instead participated in the marginalisation and exclusion of women.

Taci, anzi parla, Oggetto 12 ([1977 - 1978 ca.]) by Lonzi CarlaLa Galleria Nazionale

We must consequently reject patriarchal creativity and take the path of feminist self-awareness. It is precisely in the latter that she sees the potential of non-patriarchal creativity.

Iconografie, Oggetto 9 (10 agosto 1977 - 1979) by Lonzi CarlaLa Galleria Nazionale

The female revolution

In spring 1970, she spent several days in Rome with Accardi and Elvira Banotti to share in the emotion aroused by the rise of feminism in the world.

Taci, anzi parla, Oggetto 38 (23 febbraio 1983 - 06 dicembre 1983) by Lonzi MartaLa Galleria Nazionale

The result is the Manifesto of Female Revolt, published in July, which sanctions the birth of the first Italian feminist groups

Morante Elsa, Oggetto 2 (ottobre 1978) by Lonzi CarlaLa Galleria Nazionale

Lonzi wrote it, and in the same year she wrote Sputiamo su Hegel, an invitation to take leave of the patriarchal culture, addressed above all to women, feminists and political militants, who give more credit to men's theories and forms of struggle than to experience and history of one's own sex.

Rapporti epistolari, Oggetto 13 (06 aprile 1980 - 04 gennaio 1981) by Lonzi CarlaLa Galleria Nazionale

For Lonzi, leave was a radical lifestyle choice.

Comunicazione e distribuzione, Oggetto 8 (1970 - gennaio 1981) by Lonzi CarlaLa Galleria Nazionale

She interrupted the profession and refused any other form of activity and public life to devote herself entirely to the Rivolta femminile groups, established in many cities, to writing and to editing the series Scritti di Rivolta femminile.

Credits: Story

Curated by Lucia R. Petese

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