Scacco Matto (Checkmate) is the title of a mural created at the I.T.C.G. Angioy in Carbonia as part of a series of workshops involving the 4A class of the Graphics and Communication major, led by artist Gioia Matta in collaboration with artist Martina Celani.
In the introductory meeting, dedicated to a brainstorming/discussion developed through the collage technique, the students selected images, words, and phrases from local newspapers and international magazines.
Based on this material, we discussed how to work on a blank exterior wall provided by the school. The choice was to address the theme of war and its representation: often described as a game of strategies and moves, it is here translated into the language of chess.
The mural depicts a battlefield transformed into a chessboard. Two teams face each other: the orange team plays by the rules, while the green team destroys the opposing team’s pieces with one hand, thus playing unfairly. Only one pawn remains from the orange team, the weakest, but it manages to checkmate and reverse the outcome of the game. A simple image to convey a clear message: war is not a game.
Artist Gioia Matta, creator of the workshop created in collaboration with artist Martina Celani
