The group was founded on the desire to emphasize, above all other elements, the perception, the whispers of the senses that intertwine translating experience into a mosaic of intimate knowledge. With this in mind, the theme of the current edition of the Venice Biennale, “Foreigners Everywhere,” has been declined in a personal approach by each individual artist. Some drew parallels between this concept and everyday life in a more evident way: Carlo Ciucchi Picchio gave voice to migrants by highlighting the restriction of their horizons, while some colleagues dwelt on meaning in the sphere of language. Luca Ripamonti analysed its symbolic aspect, with clock-like hands that mark time, that subjective and inner notion sometimes too constrained in rigid schemas; the visual component of language was instead elaborated by Bollani, with a staging of the dialectical relationship between humanity and technology. Seemingly diminished connection to the concrete are the artworks that study beliefs and religions, such as those by Feofeo and Fiorangela Filippini, all connected in Silvana Mascioli’s summarizing vision. Universal themes, such as depth and the otherworldly from matter, are addressed even more closely by the abstract pieces by Gina Marziale, Salvatore Scaramozzino, Fedora Spinelli, and Michele Rosa, until they lose all earthly conceptions to reach, with Emilio Sgorbati, another dimension in which every dichotomy is resolved in a desirable and peaceful synthesis.

BOLLANI

Bollani -stage name of Giovanni Scantamburlo-, partecipated in a wide range of events, including “Roma Contemporanea”, the collective exhibition at Spazio SV – Centro espositivo San Vidal, a historic Venetian venue, and in Miami. The artist employs digital photography using a technique that he ideated while watching TV and noticing a common problem known as “pixelation of the transmission”. This issue causes a mosaic-like interference that disrupts the signal and distorts the image. The selection of shots for the artworks is also influenced by his background as an architect. The final rendition garners the observer’s attention due to its distortions and repetitions of “virtual” colour bands that form an abstract field. A direct reference to Glitch Art can be found, since, as this poetics of malfunction shows, errors can be the source of creativity. In addition to their aesthetic appeal, Bollani’s pieces frequently address contemporary issues, such as pollution and the tragedies of our time, making them a powerful tool for fostering social reflection.

FEOFEO
https://www.feofeo.it/

Federica Oddone, also known as Feofeo, has gained international recognition by participating in numerous exhibitions, including the Expo 2020, held in Manarat Al Saadiyat, in Abu Dhabi. This popularity resulted in her works being included in various collections in Italy and abroad.
Her university education seemed to distance her from the creative sphere; nevertheless, she fostered an intellectual outlook that led to completely commit herself to art. Following the footsteps of artists like Mondrian and Kandinsky, Feofeo returns to studying Goethe and Rudolf Steiner, deriving from them the desire to reach, through her interiority, the universal truths that oversee existence. Her artistic activity is, therefore, a constant aspiration towards the world of ideas, and every direct figurative reference becomes superfluous in the face of an abstraction that allows for direct contact with matter, creating a totalizing individual involvement. The Master works on each painting to refine a spiritual journey that draws upon knowledge from various cultures, from Jewish to diverse Eastern doctrines.

CARLO CIUCCHI PICCHIO
https://www.carlociucchipicchio.it/it/

“Picchio,” derived from Carlo Ciucchi’s early theatrical endeavours, participated in numerous exhibitions, particularly in Tuscany, and was invited to contribute to an environmental project during Procida Capital of Culture 2022. His paintings capture the serene rolling hills, cascading waterfalls, and ethereal snowy towns of the Mugello Valley, evoking a sense of calmness. His skills extend to the digital realm, where he employs a more lively and dynamic style in depicting seascapes with rapid, synthetic brushstrokes reminiscent of musical verses and Impressionist aesthetics. Moving towards sculptures, he embraces totemic and geometric forms akin to Arnaldo Pomodoro. Picchio’s poetics combine abstraction and realistic elements, occasionally incorporating mythology, paying homage to Piet Mondrian’s grid-like compositions with a more individualistic approach. These narratives gradually take on darker tones, portraying humanity that is blind to the cries of desperation that echo around their frozen hearts.

FIORANGELA FILIPPINI
https://www.fiorangelafilippini.it/

After completing her entire education in the artistic field, Fiorangela Filippini immersed herself in individual research that now spans over fifty years of activity. It is noteworthy her recent partecipation in the Quadriennale dell’Arte Contemporanea Italiana. It’s been a long period marked by thorough experimentation, where the tools and supports of her painting vary, often exploring the possibilities of collage. She draws her inspiration from a deep and personal connection with nature that she has nurtured since childhood. For the Maestro, painting means refining one’s means to relate with the surrounding world and to convey, through the artwork, the perpetual becoming of life. The landscape is dissected and geometrically analyzed for its components and lines of force. Chromatic and luminous interplays reflect the intrinsic vibration of existence. Later on, Fiorangela Filippini encourages the process of fragmentation. Signs succeed each other, evoking emotions, ideas, and an inner experience that provides the observer with the key to unleash potential energy.

GINA MARZIALE
http://www.ginamarziale.it/

Gina Marziale’s solo exhibitions include those at the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Rome; among the group shows are the fourth Esposizione Triennale di Arti Visive in Rome and the third Biennal Internacional D’Art Gràfic at Pavelló Firal at Sant Carles de la Ràpita (Spain). Her artworks entered private and public collections like the one at the MACRO Museum in Rome.
The art of the Maestro navigates between painting and engraving, colour and drawing. These fields interpenetrate in constant experimentation where each work is a step in an uninterrupted journey, a partial achievement that develops the past and launches towards future horizons yet to be explored. The graphic style outlines the details of a dreamlike world, nevertheless it is clear, with objective references immediately understandable. The colours give substance to these inner visions and explore the symbolism intrinsic in the tones. Emblematic is her participation in “n-EGO-tions,” a collective project that nourishes creative inspiration through respect for individuality.

SILVANA MASCIOLI

Silvana Mascioli continues her internationally acclaimed career that began in the mid-1970s. It is worth mentioning in this regard the exhibitions at the MIIT Museum in Turin, in the MEAM of Barcelona and the previous participation in the Venice Biennale in the 48th edition (1999).
The Maestro found in Optical Art the basis for a composition that plays with the limits of a two-dimensional image. She constructs modular grids that captivate the observer’s gaze, leading them into denied depths and sudden deviations. The occasional presence of faces introduces the human figure into abstract research. This aspect is fundamental because, for Mascioli, painting is not just about applying physical and mathematical laws. Instead, she considers it a “Spiritual Point,” a term coined by herself. The optical dynamism of the artwork mirrors the perpetual flow of existence: for this reason, it can become the place where emotions, ideas, and values of an individual and collective life converge.

LUCA RIPAMONTI
https://www.lucaripamonti.eu/

Luca Ripamonti’s artworks have been exhibited in major cities, including New York, London, Santa Barbara, Rome, and Florence. His artistic journey was shaped by his upbringing in Valle Vigezzo, also known as the “painter’s valley,” where he developed a passion for art. He draws inspiration from the great Masters of art history and explores themes derived from classical artworks. His landscape paintings depict serene natural environments, often featuring water as a prominent element. Especially the use of light is crucial in his portraits, reminiscent of Caravaggio’s technique. Furthermore, the attention to detail is evident in the pencil drawings, capturing the physiognomy and sensuality of his subjects. He also creates artwork paying homage to notable figures in sports and music, using ink and graphite, while still-life paintings conjure a contemplative atmosphere, often with a metaphysical quality. The Maestro’s masterful technique not only showcases his technical proficiency but also his ability to convey profound emotions.

MICHELE ROSA
https://www.rosamichele.it/it_IT/

Michele Rosa has been an artist, a gallery owner, and a critical reviewer. Major exhibitions include those in Rome at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni and the Palazzo dei Congressi, as well as in Paris, Luxembourg, and Warsaw. The artist suddenly passed away on June 24, 2021.
His realistic approach focused on describing everyday life and capturing epochal changes in architecture, technology, and economics. The works’s exceptional quality is to transcend the boundaries between landscape and human representation. Over seven decades, his art explored various social issues, ranging from calm urban centres to the frenzy of industrialization. He reflected on the tension between Realism and Romanticism, participating in life events with a polemical tone. He even embraced the Informal art movement during his stay in America and continued with abstraction since the 1990s. His recent works showcase his passion for ongoing analysis, blending traditional elements with discarded objects. These visually compelling works captivate viewers and offer a rich visual experience.

SALVATORE SCARAMOZZINO
https://salvatorescaramozzino.com/

Salvatore Scaramozzino participated in national and foreign exhibitions, including events in France, Switzerland, and the United States. Recently his artworks have been exhibited at the MIIT Museum in Turin and at the Palazzo Velli Expo during the Esposizione Triennale di Arti Visive in Rome.
His poetics focuses on creating dreamlike worlds devoid of human presence. The landscapes are dominated by ruins and abandoned objects, giving a sense of an absent anthropic existence. Scaramozzino’s art emphasizes classicism as a core pillar of Western culture, with a metaphysical atmosphere and an emphasis on the past. His recent works have moved towards abstraction, with the canvas being cut to showcase the internal composition achieved by painting on transparent gauze veils. The material factor has thus become the protagonist in his art, with plaster and threads that allow the image to stand out. His artistic expression is rooted in his academic training, which enables him to create stunning visual displays through the combination of red, yellow, and blue colours.

EMILIO SGORBATI
https://www.emiliosgorbati.it/

Emilio Sgorbati has been noticed in several events, including the most recent ones, such as his solo exhibition in the historic Palazzo Ghizzoni Nasalli in Piacenza and the group exhibition “Sei personali in cerca d’autore,” hosted in the medieval building Ca’ dei Carraresi, in Treviso.
His work is marked by an experimental use of various materials such as gold, tar, enamel, cardboard, and acrylics. Peculiar are the sculptures in metal mesh that convey a sense of lightness despite their defined masses. The human figure is a recurring subject, often depicted with multiple anonymous silhouettes. In fact, his research goes beyond individuality and disrupts the representation of reality, creating an enchanting world influenced by Surrealismo padano. In some artworks, he also includes delicate decorative elements that bring to mind the ones of Miró. Everything thus appears to float free from the constraints of reality, with graphic signs linking the forms together without depth or perspective illusionism.

FEDORA SPINELLI
https://www.fedoraspinelli.it/

Fedora Spinelli’s work is once again being displayed at the Venice Biennale: she previously attended the 2022 edition in the same National Pavilion of Grenada. Also to be mentioned is her presence at two editions of the Esposizione Triennale di Arti Visive di Roma.The Maestro pursues two distinct artistic paths, in visual art as well as in poetry and literature. In 2018, she found a common ground through innovative experimentation with digital tools. This process, known as Art and Poetry, combines text and images on PVC material covered with plexiglass. The pieces showcase her technical versatility, utilizing various tools such as oils, acrylics, watercolours, enamels, and tulle inserts. The core aim is to express interiority through the development of materials. Especially abstraction allows her to communicate feelings and ideas without any objective filter, reminiscent of Kandinsky’s works. Spinelli’s art emphasizes the significance of personal expression as a declaration of existence and reflection on the world’s vibrancy.