Pre-order - Frida Castelli

Baron is pleased to announce the release of Censurata a new book by Italian artist Frida Castelli, highlighting the censorship challenges that Castelli's art has faced on social networking platforms. The book features a curated selection of her artworks that have been flagged or removed by Instagram.

 

In our postmodern society, friendships and relationships are increasingly seen as commodities. Influential individuals, including celebrities and social media influencers, frequently engage with their audiences on social networking platforms in a personal manner, primarily to foster connections and pseudo-relationships, so they can promote and sell product or subscriptions. This approach is transforming visual culture, blending reality and relatability in photography and film to engage audiences.

 

Consequently, a disparity arises between the types of content that is shared. It seems acceptable to objectify the body or to market product, if the creator has a substantial following, and the content is presented as authentic, real and personable. Such content is rarely flagged for violating content policies. This reality highlights how corporations, like Instagram and TikTok, determine which representations are deemed acceptable, thereby shaping our collective worldview.

 

In contrast, artistic works that engage with themes relating to the body or serve purposes of self-expression, education, and political commentary are often subject to censorship or exclusion. Similarly, institutions such as museums, publishing houses, and educational platforms that produce content for academic or conceptual purposes frequently encounter censorship and are not showcased. This form of censorship presents a limited viewpoint and emphasizes how we are currently immersed in a new visual culture where authenticity, influence, and capitalism take center stage.

Censurata by Castelli contributes to the discourse surrounding freedom of expression in our digital age, exploring how social networking influences how individuals learn, express, experience, and appreciate their own bodies and identities.

 

Censurata has been designed to resemble an artist's sketchbook, featuring flip pages and formatted in A3 size, thus allowing readers to engage with Castelli's work in its true dimensions. It also includes an accompanying essay that provides further context and insight.

 

Artist Bio

Frida Castelli is an Italian artist based in Milan. Her work has appeared in publications such as The Huffington Post and Cultura Inquieta. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and she is known for creating sensual artwork in a uniquely erotic manner. Censurata is the artist's sixth book, published by Baron.

 

Size 29.7 x 42 cm

80 pages

Soft back/sketch book with book tape.

Pre-order delivery Autmn/Winter

500 limited edition