In the year 2012, in response to the popular belief that 21 December would be the Earth’s last day (according to the Mayan calendar), Michelangelo Pistoletto instituted a call for artists that countered with a message of rebirth and responsible regeneration of our society. This is how, on 21.12.2012, the Rebirth Day was born. A collective celebration that united the whole world in more than a hundred artistic interventions then collected in a video-story presented the following year at the Louvre, during the Biellese artist’s solo exhibition Année 1, Le paradis sur Terre. Among the events, very significant was the human cordon from Turin to Susa, where 50,000 people holding hands bridged the distance of 54 km between the two locations at 12.21pm on 21.12.2012.
Ten years later, on 21 December 2022, Michelangelo Pistoletto launched a new appeal, a new call to action. One date: 21 March 2023, one action worldwide: joining hand in hand. Many different lines on a single map, a single virtual line around the planet. A global participation, against all monstrosities caused by the actions of men. All of them, none excluded. A planetary event, to be shared on social media, to be filmed and geolocalised on a map of the world: www.21march.net. A video-documentary will then be produced, which will seamlessly collect all the contributions received, a kilometres-long digital work around our planet.
Why 21 March? What info will I have to share on the official website?
It is the spring equinox, one of the two times of the year when there is an equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes.
The website will transform as 21 March 2023 approaches: each organiser of the individual events will have a space and will be identifiable by their geolocalisation on a map. To participate, simply enter the place, the motivation (optional), the number of participants, the name of the organisers, the name of the participants (optional), the link to the video of the performance (required) and up to 3 photos. When signing up, you will be asked for an e-mail and telephone number, which will not be published.
Can performances only be realized on 21 March?
No, we take the week of 20-27 March as a reference, during which time it will be possible to upload contributions on the site.
How to upload the videos onto the site?
The portal will soon display a map where you can geolocate your performance with a few clicks. The video must be first uploaded onto a hosting site (YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion, etc.), which generates the link to be pasted on the website.
How to make the videos? Should each video be shot in one take?
Although the most commonly used format with smartphones is vertical, we kindly ask you to use the horizontal format for the official video of your performance. The organisers recommend having one shot for every 100 people and then editing them all together, in order to avoid long waiting times for the participants.
At what distance to shoot? What are the official hashtags of the initiative?
The distance (which is anyway recommended at 3 to 7 metres) is not that relevant, it’s important though to be able to see several people at the same time and understand where you are. The hashtags are #21march23 #preventivepeace. By using these hashtags on Instagram, you will also be directed to the social homepage.
“It will be an opportunity to get into action,” said Saverio Teruzzi, coordinator of the Rebirth/Third Paradise ambassadors, “a choice of participation, a claiming ‘Look! I’m here too’. A gesture, the holding of hands, which is the most confidential and reassuring towards the other, towards the others, towards all those who think like me or differently from me, but do not want to impose themselves by force and violence. Lots and lots of lines to draw attention to the injustice, hatred, intolerance, pollution, incivility – and the list is unfortunately quite longer – present in our world. One continuous line around the world to show that there are those who think differently, those who want to renew and regenerate themselves, that problems are not solved by going against the other, but through ‘being’ with the other. 21 March 2023, everywhere, hand in hand”. The organisers of the individual events remain the owners and managers of the content shared, ceding to Fondazione Pistoletto Onlus and Michelangelo Pistoletto the rights of non-profit use of the same without time limits.
