In contrast to the large outdoor pieces displayed throughout the historic center of Lucca, the smaller works of Cartasia were displayed inside the Ex Museo del Fumetto (the former Comics Museum).  The building is tucked away in Piazza San Romano, directly across from the Church of San Romano.  

The displays began in the courtyard where the history of Cartasia, now in its 10th edition, was celebrated in a series of panels.  Each panel provided information about one of the prior shows.  Two large pieces, both favorites from the last exhibit in 2018, were placed at the building entrance and at the end of the journey through Cartasia’s history (Silent Shell, Chaotic Shell, left and Paperman, on the right below).

100 + individual works were displayed in the rooms surrounding the courtyard.  The pieces varied in size, color, mood, and format but all had one common feature – the medium of paper or cardboard.  

 The featured country for the 2021 exhibit was Japan. One large room, complete with a small traditional Japanese tea room, was dedicated to Japanese paper art.  

Two pieces were, at first glance, colorful paintings of women with intricate backgrounds. Each was lit from behind and seemed to glow. But then the light dimmed, the colorful painting slowly disappeared, and a completely different hidden image emerged.  Fascinating!  Both, by Japanese artist Meiko Yokoyama, are shown below with the full picture on the left, and the hidden image on the right.

 Especially intriguing was a series of faces printed on paper banners which filled one room.

 The last part of the indoor exhibit seemed to embrace desire more than fear. It was a whimsical display of fashion and an embrace of wild femininity. A far cry from the paper doll clothes of long ago, this part of the exhibit included dramatic hats and extravagant articles of clothing. Each had amazing texture, movement, and flair.

The exhibit ended on Sept 26th – but it’s never too early to plan to attend the next edition which will be held July 31st to Sept 25th 2022 (putting the biennial back on the every 2 year schedule interrupted by the pandemic).  Next year’s theme is “The White Page”. I’m already looking forward to it!

In the meantime, I hope that some of the larger outdoor pieces will continue to be displayed under Lucca’s walls, where they will be protected from the elements.  It’s always a delightful surprise to go through one of the many passageways under the walls, round a corner, and come across one of these pieces.
What a joy it has been to see Cartasia return to Lucca!

Below: a series of colorful panels which formed the backdrop for the tea room in the Japanese exhibit room.