Massimo De Carlo gallery inaugurates the new season with the exhibition Come prima, meglio di prima, presenting works by Gianfranco Baruchello, Carla Accardi, Marisa Merz, Gian Domenico Sozzi, Massimo Bartolini, Pietro Roccasalva, Diego Perrone, and Paola Pivi.
This exhibition brings together eight Italian artists with an intergenerational perspective, featuring works that range from the seventies until the present day. In a time in which a new unprecedented approach to art, the world, space and time is inescapably emerging globally, Come prima, meglio di prima explores the opportunities of a liquid time, in which the present and the past meet and overlap to synthesize a future perspective. The work by the eight artists in the exhibition strongly welcomes this possibility.
The exhibition begins with Massimo Bartolini’s signature marble columns, along with the audio recording of a moving table. The notion of landscape is a recurring theme in the artist’s practice: in On the rock (2019), the landscape comes out of the canvas and challenges its conventional limits. The view of the traditional landscape painting is here supported by a stone – a symbol of a steady and resistant waiting - which was before a natural element and has now become a bronze sculpture.
The viewer is then confronted with works by Carla Accardi and by Paola Pivi. It is not the first time that Massimo De Carlo presents a dialogue between these two artists: on the occasion of the two-person exhibition held in London in 2013, Paola Pivi declared 'Carla Accardi is my guru', a statement that reveals how Pivi is attuned to the Sicilian artist. Accardi’s three-dimensional transparent Cilindro-Cono (2013) stands in the centre of the room, blending lightly with the surrounding environment, whilst Paola Pivi's pearl-cascades sparkle from the walls.
The minimal plaster and steel sculpture contrasts with the rich work on paper by Marisa Merz. The artist was the only female representative of the Arte Povera movement, and beginning in the sixties, she has established herself for her intimate and constantly changing poetics, in which everyday and unusual materials mix to give life to organic and metamorphic forms.
In his practice, Gian Domenico Sozzi utilizes found objects on which he applies layers of thought that transform their identities. The three works on display, from the series called FATIMA (2020), arise from the unexpected appearance of discarded rear-view mirrors, which the artist has collected, repurposed and elevated, revealing the contrasting themes of casualness and determinism that characterize his work.
The exhibition also presents a selection of assemblages by Gianfranco Baruchello. Populated by a multitude of small images, tiny figures and linguistic signs, Baruchello's works explore the mechanisms of the human mind, its relationships with space and its applications in complex systems such as language, anatomy, nature, society, and politics.
The three canvases by Pietro Roccasalva in Come prima, meglio di prima, reveal the artist's profound commitment to challenge the power of painting through a vocabulary that mixes different techniques and references, using lexicon from the classical tradition and high cultural references. The artist's painting ability becomes an extraordinary means of connecting concepts and visions, and remains the key element of a poetic that combines different languages and practices.
The exhibition concludes with a new series of wax and metal works by Diego Perrone, painted bas-reliefs whose shapes are captured from real life, but seen from unusual perspectives, thus making them barely recognizable. On their surfaces appear a number of illustrated subjects that suggest a pictorial synthesis, while they intensify the wax translucent effect.
The exhibition Come prima, meglio di prima is also enriched with original content specifically created by the artists for our Instagram page @massimodecarlogallery
CARLA ACCARDI
Carla Accardi (1924-2014) was born in Trapani, Italy in 1924. Works by Accardi are part of major museum collections such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; MoMA, New York; Centre George Pompidou, Paris; MACRO, Rome; Museion, Bolzano; the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice. Solo exhibitions have been held in important institutions such as: MUSMA, Matera (2013); Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Moscow (2008); MACRO, Rome (2004); Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris (2002); MoMA PS1, New York (2001); Museo d’Arte Contemporanea - Castello di Rivoli, Rivoli (1998, 1994); Accademia di Francia, Rome (1997); Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea, Milan (1983). Her work has been shown in numerous group exhibition in prestigious institutions such as: Fondazione Prada, Milan (2015; 2017); MAXXI, Rome (2010); Centre Pompidou, Paris (2009); Palazzo Grassi, Venice (2008); MoMA PS1, New York (2008; 1999); MoCA, Los Angeles (2007); Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice (2002); The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (1994); Castello di Rivoli, Rivoli (1993; 1985); Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Rome (1949,1951, 1952, 1953, 2005). She took part in Venice Biennale on several occasions (1948, 1964, 1976, 1978, 1993).
MASSIMO BARTOLINI
Massimo Bartolini was born in Cecina, Italy in 1962, where he still lives and works. Solo exhibitions include: Four Organs, Fondazione Merz, Turin (2017); Massimo Bartolini, Museo Marino Marini, Florence (2015); It's mine! Paesaggio e appropriazione, MART, Rovereto (2014); Schlosspark Pansevitz, Outdoor Sculpture Park, Rugen, (2013); Hum - Massimo Bartolini, AuditoriumArte, Rome (2012); Massimo Bartolini, Art Unlimited, Art Basel 42, Basel (2011); Massimo Bartolini: Cor, South London Gallery, London (2010). Group exhibitions include: In the Meantime, Museum Voorlinden, Wassenaar (2017); PROPORTIO, Palazzo Fortuny, Venice (2015), Design Dialogues, Palazzo Cusani, Milan (2015); Ennesima. Una mostra di sette mostre dull'arte italiana, Triennale di Milano, Milan (2015); La disparition des lucioles, Prison Sainte-Anne, Avignone (2014). Massimo Bartolini took part in the 56th edition of the Venice Biennale in 2013 and in Documenta 13, curated by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Museum Fridericianum, Kassel (2012).
GIANFRANCO BARUCHELLO
Gianfranco Baruchello was born in Livorno, Italy in 1924. He lives and works in Rome. His works are part of prominent collections of contemporary art among which: The Museum of Modern Art, New York; The Salomon R. Guggehneim Foundation, New York; the Centre Pompidou, Paris; the National Gallery of Modern Art, Rome; MADRE Museum, Naples. Recent solo exhibitions include: Institute of Contemporary Art, London (2015); Certain Ideas, Retrospektive, Sammlung Falckenberg, Hamburg (2014-15); Cold Cinema, curated by Alessandro Rabottini, Triennale di Milano, Milan (2014); Certe Idee, curated by Carla Subrizi, Galleria Nazionale d‘Arte Moderna, GNAM, Rome (2011). Gianfranco Baruchello took part in Venice Biennale in 2013 and 1976; in 2012 and 1977 Documenta, Kessel. After taking part in Documenta in 2012 and at the Venice Biennale of 2013, a number of institutions in Europe have dedicated retrospectives to Gianfranco Baruchello and there has been a growing interest and appreciation of the artists’ work.
MARISA MERZ
Marisa Merz (1926-2019) was born in Turin, Italy in 1926. Works by Merz are part of major museum collections such as the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago; MoMA, New York; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; the Tate Modern, London; Castello di Rivoli, Turin. Recent solo exhibitions include: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia (2019); Serralves Museum, Porto (2018); Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (2017); The Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (2017); MACRO, Rome (2016); Fondazione Merz, Turin (2012); MADRE Museum, Naples (2007). Her work has been shown in numerous group exhibition such as: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia (2018); Tate Modern, London (2001) [traveled to: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D.C.]; The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (1994); P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, New York (1985); Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (1981); She has been awarded of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement by Venice Biennale in 2013 and of the Special Jury Prize by Venice Biennale in 2001.
DIEGO PERRONE
Diego Perrone was born in Asti (Italy) in 1970, he currently lives and works in Milan. Solo exhibitions include: Self Portraits, Casey Kaplan, New York (2017); Scultura che non sia conchiglia non canta, Casey Kaplan Gallery, New York (2013); Il Servo Astuto, Museion, Bolzano (2013); La mamma di Boccioni in ambulanza e la fusione della campana, CAPC Musèe d’Art Contemporain, Bordeaux (2007); Totò nudo e la fusione della campana, Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin (2005). His work has been exhibited in prominent institutions such as: Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, St. Gallen (2020); Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin (2016); Triennale di Milano, Milan (2015); New Museum, New York (2008); Whitechapel Gallery, London (2008); Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (2007); Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (2004); P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, New York (2001). Diego Perrone’s work has been included in the 53rd Biennale di Venezia, Venice (2013).
PAOLA PIVI
Paola Pivi was born in Milan in 1971, where she currently lives and works. Pivi’s work is part of major public collections such as, among others, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Prominent solo exhibitions of her work have been presented at The Bass Museum, Miami Beach (2018); Dallas Contemporary, Dallas (2016); Palazzo Strozzi, Florence (2015); High Line, New York (2012); Rockbund Art Museum, Shanghai (2012); Public Art Fund, New York (2012); Kunsthalle Basel, Basel (2007). The artist has taken part in prestigious group shows including, among others: 8th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, Moscow (2019); Ennesima, Triennale di Milano, Milan (2015); Trittico, Fondazione Prada, Milan (2015); MANIFESTA 10, Kuryokhin Modern Art Center, St. Pietroburgo (2014); Collection Sandretto Re Rebaudengo: Have you seen me before?, Whitechapel Gallery, London (2013). Paola Pivi took part in Venice Biennale in 2003 and 1999.
PIETRO ROCCASALVA
Pietro Roccasalva was born in Modica (Italy) in 1970. He currently lives and works in Milan. Solo exhibitions of his work have been presented at: Fuerstenberg Zeitgenössisch, Donaueschingen (2019); The Power Station, Dallas (2016); Kölnischer Kunstverein, Cologne (2014); MAGASIN - Centre National d’Art Contemporain, Grenoble (2013); GaMeC, Bergamo (2007); Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venice (2006). His work has been exhibited internationally in prominent institutions such as: David Roberts Art Foundation, London (2018); Centre for Contemporary Art, Warsaw (2011); Bonniers Konsthall, Stockholm (2010); MoCA, Chicago (2009); Kadist Art Foundation, Paris (2009); MoMA PS1, New York (2007); MAXXI, Rome (2007); S.M.A.K. - Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, Gent (2003). Pietro Roccasalva’s work has been included in Venice Biennial in 2009, MANIFESTA 7 in 2008 and the Prague Biennial in 2007.
GIAN DOMENICO SOZZI
Gian Domenico Sozzi was born in Castello del Solaro (BS) in 1960, he lives and works in Milan. Solo exhibitions of his work have been presented at: Image Furini Arte Contemporanea, Arezzo (2008); Canal at Peer, London (2007); Galleria Zero, Milan (2006); Galleria Miscetti, Rome (2000; 1996; 1992); Montenay-Giroux, Paris (1997); Studio Casoli, Milan (1993); Galleria G7, Bologna (1987); Galleria Schema, Florence (1985). Group exhibtions include: The Three Cities, Ex Fabbrica Presbitero, Milan (2006); Per Amore, Galleria Civica Montevergini, Siracusa (2004); Sulla Strada, Castel San Pietro, Bologna (2003); Disidentico, curated by Achille Bonito Oliva, Palazzo Abatellis, Palermo (1998); Decomposizione, S. Michele a Ripa, Roma (1997); Dislocazioni dell’Arte, curated by Achille Bonito Oliva, Termoli (1994); Per un Museo, Loggetta Lombardesca, Ravenna (1989); Equinozio d’Autunno, Castello di Rivara, Turin (1987); XI Quadriennale, Rome (1986).