ARC @ The Presentation of Ai Weiwei’s Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir
Brooklyn, NY
Thursday, 17 April 2025
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Salotto NYC | 84 Withers Street FL1, Brooklyn
Join ARC on Thursday, 17 April, for a thought-provoking conversation and the presentation of Ai Weiwei’s Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir, hosted by Salotto NYC, a hub for cultural research and production run by NYC-based Italian creative professionals. The enriching event will explore the central themes of Weiwei’s first graphic memoir, addressing the intersection of artistic expression and intellectual freedom. Through the signs of the Chinese zodiac, Weiwei utilizes themes of folklore, career, and memory to construct an inspiring tapestry of the intricate relationship between one’s art, activism, and humanity. The presentation will include creatives involved in the production of the memoir, Gianluca Costantini and Elettra Stamboulis, in conversation with ARC’s Executive Director, Julie Trébault.
Speakers
Gianluca Costantini
Gianluca Costantini is an activist and artist known for his collaborations with Amnesty, ActionAid, and Ai Weiwei. His work has been featured at major human rights festivals and in global publications like Le Monde Diplomatique, CNN, and Corriere della Sera. He has published numerous graphic novels and won the Amnesty International Art and Human Rights award in 2019.
Elettra Stamboulis
Elettra Stamboulis is an Italian art curator, writer, and principal of Liceo Artistico e Musicale Canova in Forlì. Former art director of Komikazen festival, she authored graphic novels like Cena con Gramsci and Arrivederci Berlinguer. She curated major exhibitions for artists like Zehra Doğan and Badiucao, and founded InguineMAH!gazine and G.I.U.D.A. She writes for publications such as Linus and Artribune.
Julie Trébault
Julie Trébault is the Founder and Executive Director of Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), a global organization dedicated to safeguarding artistic freedom and supporting artists and cultural workers under threat. Under her leadership, ARC provides critical resources and support to more than 2,000 artists facing persecution from state and non-state actors, empowering them to overcome challenges to their creative expression. Prior to founding ARC, she served as director of public programs at the Museum of the City of New York and the Center for Architecture.
