Artist Statement
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Riccardo Arena is an artist, researcher and teacher, whose practice is oriented to investigate the philosophical and symbolic contents of images through the creation of visual reflections conceived as poetic formalizations of a research devoted to admiring the plot of significant correspondences that link forms, phenomena, topographies and mirages of consciousness. By exploring the analogies between interdisciplinary territories and integrating multiple languages and expressive techniques his praxis is devoted to the construction of visual and narrative imagery. Ecosystems of abstract forces that by combining and harmonizing theoretical and formal research, pose as cultural devices of imaginative knowledge. Over the years, he has dedicated himself to the development of long-term independent projects in different countries, whose poetics and contents are defined through an intuitive study, connection and intertwining path that occurs during the travel experience. During this process, the continuous movement between the stratification of archival materials and their intuitive reconfiguration, is condensed into diagrams and mental maps that act as a basis and guide for the elaboration of fictional narratives expressed through installations, films, drawings, prints, books, stories, seminars and workshops. A constellation of languages in mutual dialogue, orchestrated in a field of vision aimed at contemplating the metaphysical and universal components that tie stories, cultures, theories and myths distant in time and geographies. After the projects developed in China “Four times a tree” (2006/2008), Argentina “Ellero’s dual death and visual ecosystem” (2009/2012), Russia “Vavilon” (2013/2017), he is currently showing the project “Hyphae - Where things fall and never return to themselves” (2017/2021), , a project born from a series of travels and researches carried out among Iran, Armenia and Ethiopia. The work is based on the novel called “LuDD! - Topography of Light” published in 2019 and reprinted in 2021 by Kunstverein publishing. Riccardo Arena (Milan, 1979) lives and works in Milan. Currently, he his an associate professor at: Bologna Academy of Fine Art; Brera Academy of Arts. His works were exhibited at: MONTE VERIÀ, Ascona; GALLERIA MILAN, Milan; MAMbo - Bologna Modern Art Museum; MATERA CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2019; ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF ADDIS ABEBA, Ethiopia; TRIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY ART IN ARMENIA, Merkurov Museum, Gyumri; MAXXI, Rome; IMMA, Dublin, CENTROPECCI, Prato; QUADRIENNALE D’ARTE, Rome; ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF LONDON, England; VIAFARINI, Milan; FONDAZIONE SANDRETTO RE REBAUDENGO, Turin; PREMIO FURLA, Palazzo Reale, Milan; MART, Rovereto; MAGA, Gallarate; MUSEO DEL NOVECENTO, Milan; 54th VENICE BIENNALE, Buenos Aires/Venice; 1918ARTSPACE, Shanghai. He was selected as a finalist for the MAXXI PRICE 2017 and won the National Prize LONG PLAY - XXIV, MAGA, Gallarate, and the First Prize at MANUALMENTE, Varese. His workshop, seminars and reading were host at: FELTRINELLI FOUNDATION, Milan; AHK - Netherlands Film Academy, GALLERIA MILANO, Milan ; ECOMUSEO, Milan; MATERA CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2019; BRERA ACADEMY; MAGA MUSEUM, Gallarate; P.I.A. Persistence Is All- Lecce; AAU - University of Fine Art And Design, Addis Ababa; TUMO, Center for Creative Technologies,Yerevan; VIAFARINI/MIBACT, Milan. He took part to workshops and residences like: INVISIBLE PAVILIONS, Matera; GRAND TOUR D’ITALIE, Viafarini, Milan; KOOSHK, Theran; IN FAVOUR OF A TOTAL ECLIPSE, Fiorucci Art Trust, Stromboli; ACH - Ammirato Culture House, Lecce; VIR, Viafarini Residency, Milan. |
Recent News
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September 2022
EFFEMERIDI Solo Exhibition Trieste Contemporanee, Trieste, ITALY May 2022 GERANOS. Choreography of a mental landscape - Movement I Solo Exhibition Fondazione Monte Verità, Ascona May 2022 HERE. BETWEEN NOT-YET AND NO-MORE Group Show Galleria Milano April 2021 HYPHAE - Dove le cose cadono e non ritornano più a se stesse Solo Exhibition + Public Program Galleria Milano Jan 2021 QW11 - Quarantine Workout I 1a restituzione Workshop in collaborazione con Standards e Mixitè https://www.standardstudio.it/it/quarantine-workout May 2020 AUTOPROGETTAZIONE Istruzioni d’artista - Galleria Milano http://www.autoprogettazione.com/portfolio/riccardo-arena/ 27th, 28th, 29th November 2019 THE ISLAND - NETHERLANDS FILM ACADEMY Workshop on Philosophy of Images Amsterdam 25th September 2019, h 18.30 GALLERIA MILANO Book Reading + Conferences Speakers: Lama Michel Tulku Rinpoche, Maria Tilde Bettetini, Roberto Pinto, Claudia D’Alonzo Moderator: Bertram Niessen In collaboration with: cheFare, Viafarini Milan I PRIMI A CROLLARE >>> Short Essay (Italiano) cheFAre - Platform for cultural transformation |
16th September 2019
NETHERLANDS FILM ACADEMY Masterclass in conversation with Federico Sande Amsterdam 29th June - 5th August 2019 INVISIBLE PAVILLIONS - HYPOGAEUM WATER-CISTERNS OF VICECONTE PALACE Exhibition Matera Capital of Culture 2019 From 8 of June 2019 FILATURA DELL’ALBEDO Vol. I >>> Workshop per lo sviluppo di un libro d’artista con Giulia Brivio (Studio Boîte) Niguarda, Milan 04th June 2019, h 18.30 LIBRERIA BODONI / SPAZIO B Book Reading In conversation with: Massimo Minuti Turin 27th, 28th, 29th November 2019 THE ISLAND - NETHERLANDS FILM ACADEMY Workshop on Philosophy of Images 22th May 2019, h 18.30 PAV - Parco Arte Vivente Book Reading + Conferences Speakers: Giulia Brivio, Marco Enrico Giacomelli, Lorenzo De Rita, Davide Dal Sasso, Turin 8th May 2019, h 14.00 BRERA FINE ARTS ACADEMY Book Reading In conversation with: Lucrezia Cippitelli Milan 26th April 2019, h 19.00 KUNPEN LAMA GANGCHEN Book reading In conversation with: Lama Michel Rimpoche Albagnano, VB |
Interview
Contact
- arenarama@gmail.com