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Donna Bianco III

Artist: Wells, Charis Edward · b. 1986

Donna Bianco III

A graduate of Moray School of Art, University of The Highlands and islands, the artist was the recipient of an RSA John Kinross Travel Scholarship in…

A graduate of Moray School of Art, University of The Highlands and islands, the artist was the recipient of an RSA John Kinross Travel Scholarship in 2015.

The work is one of a series of still shots taken by the artist by way of documenting an art happening in her home town of Elgin inspired by Romany beggars whom she encountered during her stay in Florence.
Two actor friends of the artist dressed as these beggars, their faces painted white and dressed in pseudo-bridal dresses, and were recorded as they went to different areas in Elgin town centre and engaged with locals.

The artist was producing a series of 8 films each relating directly to Dante’s Inferno which provided the inspiration to this area of work and which she has translated into Scots.

In this image the two beggars lie prostrate, their begging cups and bouquets of flowers held before them. Oblivious to their plight at left a Honda car heading west turns left off High Street into Commercial Street, Elgin, whilst in centre a woman standing in the doorway of the former Abbey National building society premises averts her gaze. To right a woman on a disability scooter was observed to have made a very deliberate swerve around the women shortly before the photograph was taken. She is heading along High Street towards St. Giles’ Church.

Donna Bianco effectively translates as Woman in White, famously the title of a novel by the English author, Wilkie Collins, first published in 40 parts between 1859 and 1860, but which has no direct relevance to the present work.

© Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture