Tapuista Archive: Art Brut in Mestre with TAPU

This art form, raw by its very name, is characterized by spontaneity and instinctiveness, since it is created by people outside the usual artistic circles— self-taught individuals who are often psychiatric patients or on the margins of society. These artists transform their tormented inner worlds into forms of expression free from references to historical models, and this lack of influence allows for unconventional stylistic approaches, since the works often arise from an intimate and personal need rather than commercial considerations.

“Art brut is a niche movement that isn’t very widespread in Italy,” explains Gabriele Tiveron, director of the TAPU SINGOLARE space — but our Mestre-based initiative has managed to make a name for itself on the European stage, even connecting with Raw Vision Magazine, a specialized British publication that has been covering this artistic phenomenon for 40 years.” The archive will take shape through the acquisition of every issue of the magazine, and “We’re starting to research and collect all the catalogs dedicated to this form of expression —adds Tiveron— a hunt through secondhand sources, since they often haven’t been reprinted.”

The materials contained in the archive—including magazines, exhibition catalogs, publications, texts, scholarly materials, and documentation— will, in accordance with the curators’ vision, be made accessible to scholars, cultural professionals, artists, and enthusiasts of unconventional art, fostering knowledge and rediscovery of this field.

This initiative arose from a commitment to documentation—to collect and share sources and materials useful for preserving a memory that is often fragmented—thereby not only highlighting the artists but also fostering opportunities for interaction. In fact, the project includes events designed to create and sustain a network among those involved in this field.

The “Tapuista Archive — Documentation Center and Inclusive Creativity Workshop” is curated by TAPU SINGOLARE, an independent organization that has made its home in Mestre ’s Piave neighborhood, where it has established an exhibition and research space for self-taught and non-professional artists with backgrounds in mental health.

“Being in this area allows us to take a stand against urban decay ,” explains Tiveron, “especially by showcasing the art of people whom society labels as ‘useless.’ We’d like to gain recognition at the regional level, which is why we’re working with schools and other organizations to establish a strong foundation for our work.” The independent, self-managed art center has already organized several exhibitions in the city, and during the event on Friday, the 11th, it presented a preview of the exhibition “Il Diavolo di Bongozona,” a posthumous exhibition dedicated to Dario C., an artist who passed away after spending his life in degrading healthcare facilities.