“Carta da parato" (Wallpaper) is the title of a series of works conceived by Tomaso Binga between 1976 and 1977.
In 1976, Tomaso Binga created the environmental installation "Carta da parato" within a private residence in Rome. The work was subsequently restaged in other locations, including Riolo Terme and the Galleria d'Arte Moderna in Bologna.
In the installation, the artist meticulously covered the walls of the space with wallpaper on which she had manually traced graphic signs that extended across and occupied the entire surface. Wearing a dress fashioned from the same material, Binga camouflaged herself within the environment, iteratively reciting the poem "Io sono una carta" (I am a piece of paper).
The performative action embodies the Italian idiomatic expression "to be wallpaper" (fare carta da parato), which historically referred to women considered less attractive and consequently not invited to dance, thus compelled to remain motionless, virtually "stuck" to the walls, awaiting selection. The work constitutes a denunciation of gender disparities, focusing specifically on the cultural subordination and psychological violence inflicted upon women in contemporary society.
In adherence to the principles of feminism, during the 1970s Tomaso Binga undertook rigorous research into language, centered on its deconstruction and the reinvention of writing. This process also utilized the body and voice as instruments to demystify and overcome the sexist aspects inherent in communication.