Giovanni de Cataldo
Curated by
Renato Della Poeta
Venue
Espai 2
C. dels Àngels 16, Barcelona
Opening: May 20, at 6 pm
Visiting days: May 21 and 22
The Blueproject Foundation presents the exhibition El Clásico de las Colectividades by Giovanni de Cataldo at Espai 2 (C. dels Àngels 16, Barcelona).
The exhibition is part of the Aguante project, supported by the Italian Council 14 programme and organised by the Fondazione Pastificio Cerere (Rome) in collaboration with MUNTREF – Museos de la Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (Buenos Aires).
Aguante is a research project in which Giovanni de Cataldo (Rome, 1990) explores the connections between South American football fandom and Italian migration through the concept of “aguante.” Originating in 19th-century nautical jargon, the term referred to a ship’s stability and its ability to withstand rough seas, strong winds, and exhaustion. It later entered popular dialects and was eventually adopted by Argentine football supporters from the 1960s onwards, becoming an expression of collective identity, resistance, and belonging.
The research —initiated in January 2025 and carried out in stadiums, archives, and football clubs founded by migrant communities— uncovers micro-histories, cultural syncretisms, and hybrid languages, revealing deep connections between football, memory, and community. All the collected material has been used to create eight tapestries conceived as visual maps of a transnational identity, evoking stadium banners and the ritual dimension of football.
Supported by:
With the collaboration of: