RICCARDO ARENA
  • WORK
  • FILM
  • CO-LEARNING
  • ARCHIVE
  • INFO
  • WORK
  • FILM
  • CO-LEARNING
  • ARCHIVE
  • INFO
Foto
Artist Statement

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; Guest professor at Netherlands Film Academy. His works were exhibited at: TRIESTE CONTEMPORANEA, Trieste; 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.
Cv

  • CV- Download:    English
Portfolio

  • Portfolio - Download:    English
Recent News
December 2022
ANATOMY OF A VISION
Workshop
Netherland Film Academy | Amsterdam

November / December 2022
TEOMAMA
Artist Talk
Casa del Lago, UNAM, Mexico City

ERROR | espacio de reflexión

Residency / Exhibition
Mexico City

October 2022
MASTER CAMPUS THEATRE
Workshop
Dimitri School, Hochschule der Künste Bern (HKB), La Manufacture Lausanne, Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (ZHDK).
Blenio (CH)

September / October 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 / October 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/

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
​​​
  • DIALOGHI DI ESTETICA    -   in coversation with Davide Dal Sasso, Artribune, Italiano
  • FATTI DI CULTURA   -   Interview, Betram Niessen, cheFare, Italiano​
Contact

  • arenarama@gmail.com