Karla Black
Gianni Caravaggio
Alice Cattaneo
Thea Djordjadze
Jason Dodge
Francesco Gennari
Ian Kiaer
Helen Mirra
Federico Ferrari
The exhibition presents sculptures and large-scale installations by 8 international artists from Italy, Great Britain, Georgia, and the US. All artists were commissioned by the Italian Collezione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia to produce new works for this occasion. They explore the potential and characteristics of the materials employed as well as address philosophical concepts concerning the relationship between material, space, and time. The philosopher Federico Ferrari's thoughts on the essential in art serve as conceptual framework.
The exhibition “Arte Essenziale” presents sculptures and large-scale
installations by eight international contemporary artists from Italy, Great
Britain, Georgia, and the US. All artists were commissioned by the Italian
Collezione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia to produce new works for the
exhibition. They explore the potential and characteristics of the materials
employed as well as address philosophical concepts concerning the relationship between material, space, and time. “Arte Essenziale” was first shown at
the Collezione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia and subsequently will be presented
at the Frankfurter Kunstverein from November 4, 2011 to January 1, 2012.
The Italian philosopher Federico Ferrari’s thoughts on the essential in art
serve as the exhibition’s conceptual framework: “Arte Essenziale” attests to the
need to identify at the end of the postmodern era a gesture of a new beginning
in contemporary art. Central to Ferrari’s considerations is the search for the
origin of artistic practice, with particular regard to the essence of the artistic
gesture, its necessity, and meaning. For Ferrari, the artistic medium and the
particular materiality constitute a definite approach: the essence of the
artwork is manifested at the point where the material emerges out of itself to
become what it is. Many participants in the exhibition present works using
everyday materials such as plaster or skin cream, situating them in relationship to symbolically charged materials such as bronze or marble. When
expressed sculpturally, this interplay of contrasting substances is heightened
and richly sensual.
“Arte Essenziale” does not attempt to define a group, but presents individual
positions that have developed over the past decade and which appear to share
a common understanding of art. Karla Black (*1972) often combines in her
works building materials such as plaster powder, Vaseline, or sawdust with
everyday cosmetic supplies. The surface of “Persuader Face” (2011)–a fragile
floor work of makeup powder–looks so soft it inspires the urge to touch it.
It fits with a delicate, half-transparent cellophane work that has been dusted in
chalk and appears to be floating weightlessly in space. The Scottish artist’s
interest in the transitoriness of form is manifested in a process-oriented
handling of materials.
Gianni Caravaggio (*1968) also deals with exposing working methods in his
sculptural works. His constellations of objects are either in a constant state of
flux or carry traces of previously executed actions. An example of this is the
work “Seed Image” (2011), which the Italian artist created by rubbing plaster
off the wall, allowing it to then trickle onto a marble slab propped against the
wall underneath. The build up of plaster dust provides the slab visual depth.
Francesco Gennaris’ (*1973) experiments also have a similar focus: how
materials are transformed when subjected to external factors such as
temperatures or when dissimilar materials are combined.
In his model-like installations British artist Ian Kiaer (*1971) questions
utopian architectural designs, constructing complex reference systems
situated between architectural history, literature, and philosophy. Alice
Cattaneo (*1976) creates large-scale installations. The Italian artist’s delicate
sculptures are created from elements such as tape strips or foam panels.
Despite their fragility they are capable of transforming space. In her installations Thea Djordjadze (*1971) combines cool-toned materials, such as glass
or steel, with warm, homey objects like rugs or abstract geometrical forms.
Her constellations of objects form invisible rooms that are inspired by
Le Corbusier’s human-scale system of proportions. However, the Georgian
artist subverts their usefulness, pushing the architect’s strict models to the
point of absurdity.
Jason Dodge (*1969) titles most of his installation-based works with text
fragments. Notwithstanding, the connection to the objects they describe
remains obscured. The American artist combines in unexpected ways everyday
items such as fleece blankets and kitchen scales, producing constellations of
objects recalling abandoned film sets. In her series of works American artist
Helen Mirra (*1970) uses photographs and objects to visually depict abstract
accountings of experiences or investigations. In looking for and making
connections the viewer draws the fragments together again.
Participating artists: Karla Black (UK), Gianni Caravaggio (IT), Alice Cattaneo
(IT), Thea Djordjadze (GE), Jason Dodge (US), Francesco Gennari (IT),
Ian Kiaer (UK), Helen Mirra (US).
Curator: Federico Ferrari, Professor of Philosophy of Art, Accademia
di Brera (Italy)
A bilingual catalog (Italian/English) published by Collezione Maramotti and
featuring an essay by Federico Ferrari is available for the exhibition.
Price: 30 Euro (20 Euro for members of Frankfurter Kunstverein)
“Arte Essenziale” is produced by Collezione Maramotti in collaboration with
the Frankfurter Kunstverein.
Press contact:
Julia Wittwer (Head of PR), Anna Goetz (Assistant)
Phone: +49.69.219314-30 /-40, fax: +49.69.219314-11
E-Mail: presse@fkv.de
Press Preview: Thursday, November 3, 2011, 11 am
Opening: Thursday, November 3, 2011, 7 pm
Frankfurter Kunstverein
Steinernes Haus am Römerberg, Markt 44, 60311 Frankfurt am Main
OPENING HOURS: Tues., Thurs. and Fri.: 11 am–7 pm, Wed.: 11 am–9 pm,
Sat. and Sun.: 10 am–7 pm, closed on Monday
ENTRANCE FEE: 6 € (reduced: 4 €)
GUIDED TOURS: Every second Wednesday at 7:30 pm and every second
Sunday at 4:30 pm, fee: 2 € plus entrance fee