The RAVE East Village Artist Residency, established in 2011, is a unique platform created by artists Isabella and Tiziana Pers along with Giovanni Marta. This interdisciplinary initiative supports creative research, dialogue, and artistic production, focusing on contemporary art's role concerning 'otherness' as represented by animals. RAVE encourages re-evaluating our perspectives through a bio-centric, anti-speciesist lens.
At RAVE, participants—including artists, philosophers, critics, scientists, writers, architects, and activists—come together to share vegan meals, emphasizing respect for all sentient beings. The project integrates elements of environmentalism, as it aims to protect trees from being felled and animals from slaughter. Through her ongoing practice known as Art_History, Tiziana Pers facilitates the exchange of her artwork for the lives of animals destined for slaughter, sparking discussions around the economic value placed on sentient beings and artworks.
The residency has showcased contributions from numerous artists, such as:
| Artist | Work | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian Paci | Inside the Circle, video | 2012 |
| Ivan Moudov | Stones, installation | 2013 |
| Regina Josè Galindo | La oveja negra, performance | 2014 |
| Diego Perrone | Piedi, video | 2015 |
| Tomás Saraceno | Expanse NGC by at the Tegenaria domestica, works on paper | 2016 |
| Igor Grubić | Do Animals…?, multimedia project | 2017 |
| Giuseppe Stampone | Architecture of Intelligence | 2019 |
| Liliana Moro | In onda, sound installation | 2021 |
| Nada Prlja | I was born to fly, multimedia project | 2023 |
RAVE has organized several impactful exhibitions, including:
Set in a historic borgo, RAVE fosters a dynamic interaction between humans and non-human animals, facilitating diverse discussions and artistic exploration. The residency also provides a library for readings, reflections, and new liberations.
RAVE invites support for its mission of animal welfare and environmental sustainability. The project thrives through partnerships with various organizations, bringing together a community that believes in the power of art to effect change.