Mario Radice
From 13th December to 14th March
Opening: 12th December from 6 p.m.
Allegra Ravizza Gallery is proud to present the show of Mario Radice one of the great exponents of the abstract artists group from Como, Italy, as well as ground breaking and leading figure of the Italian cultural landscape of ‘900.
This show highlights, through a selection of his works, the complexity of the artist as well as the fundamental coherence of his artistic tenets. The exhibition itinerary starts from the first preparatory sketches and models for the concrete panels of the Casa del Fascio (Fascist Party Headquarter), in the years 1933- 1934, highlighting the harmonious play of positive and negative space of the open-maze structures, and arrives to the studies of new geometries based on circular and oblique elements, as can be seen in the plans for a modern church for 400 people signed with Cesare Cattaneo.
The show, like a narration, unfolds chronologically through paintings (Compositions and Portraits), sketches, drawings, reconstructions, studies and sketches for pictorial works which trace back to the theme that will dominate the painting season of the 50s: the theme of the secret portrait put forth again in rhythmic, harmonious stratified layers. In fact, it is the “Secret Portrait”, iconic image of the show, large oil painting of the late 30s, which with its title is suggesting us how the iconic element is rendered “abstract” by means of the geometrization of the real image. The works of the last period, with their particularly glowingand warm colors, end the exhibition itinerary and this cognitive journey showing new typologies marked by intersecting planes, intertwining of lines, and by, and by triangular and curvilinear solutions. The show ends with a precious photographic documentation and with some etchings made incollaboration with Angelo Tenchio.
Curated by Roberta Lietti
