about.

The Museo Barracco is undoubtedly a source of inspiration for an artist who has always worked, as I have, on the idea of art as a reinterpretation of classical tradition, and whose breadth and eclecticism involves a fusion of different means (sculpture and space, painting and image) that reshapes its more academic significance, thereby repositioning the work within a more tangential conception of history.

The works are sustained by a spirit evoked both in their image and, at the same time, an idea of “making” that doesn’t seek to rediscover noble materials such as marble, gold, bronze, granite, etc. but accentuates the weakness of their significance in a contemporary landscape. This effect comes about through the use of ‘poor’ materials as well as installations that tend towards the physical without being object-based. 

“For me, the rich appreciation of form in the “Museum” context does not therefore indicate the presence of a monumental and uplifting totality – but rather fragmentation, bearing witness, and memory”.

Paolo Canevari, April 1995

In the year of its 90th anniversary, the Museo Barracco aligns itself with cutting-edge practice by opening up its spaces up to living artists, including those at an early stage in their careers. Reviving the city’s interest in the prestigious institution thanks to exhibitions that can thrust its architecture into the present day, the Museum provides a current, if not direct source of inspiration and exchange for contemporary artists.

Paolo Canevari has designed his exhibitive/installation project at the Museo Barracco with this same idea of exchange and dialogue in mind. The title, Mostro, is a play on words in Italian – mostro can mean both “I show” and “monster” – which draws on the dual significance of the artist exposing themselves, in the first person, in a museum context, as well as the “monstrous” nature of the work exhibited.

The catalogue features an essay by Mario Codognato.

The exhibition at the Museo Barracco will be accompanied by projections of the artist’s work on the facade of Palazzo Braschi, in front of the museum, on the day of the exhibition opening, Thursday 22 June 1995, as well as on the following two days, Friday 23 and Saturday 24. The projections will run from 21.30 to midnight. Exceptionally, the museum will remain open late on these two days, until 23.00.

Both the projections and exhibition are part of the extensive of programme of events that is Projected Artists – Obiettivo: Roma.

STUDIO STEFANIA MISCETTI

2RC EDIZIONI D’ARTE

Press Office: Antonio Arévalo

works.

here below are some frames from PAOLO CANEVARI’s mostro.