25 May 2011

Ermanno Casoli Award, XII edition

Fondazione Ermanno Casoli
presents
Ermanno Casoli Award, XII edition

Francesco Barocco
I saettatori
exhibition and training program with Elica's personnel

curated by Marcello Smarrelli

Opening and presentation to the press:
Monday 23 May 2011, 11 am
in Sala Convegni at Museo della Carta e della Filigrana in Fabriano

Exhibition at Elica, Fabriano
from 24 May to 29 July 2011


Monday 23 May at 11 am, in the Conference Room at the Museo della Carta e della Filigrana in Fabriano, Fondazione Ermanno Casoli presents the XII edition of the Ermanno Casoli Award, that this year goes to Francesco Barocco.

The initiative, this year under the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, pursues one of the foundation's primary objectives: to foster the dialogue between art and the industrial world. Far from any form of competition, the Award intends to support an artist in the realization of an artwork capable of communicating with the industrial sector and the people working in it.

'Francesco Barocco's work – explains Marcello Smarrelli, Fondazione Ermanno Casoli artistic director and curator of the Award – reflects some of the core issues of his research, that are also those that have always distinguished critical debate throughout all the history of art: the artist's role, art's function, the origin of an art work, the concept of circularity and triangulation connecting the artist to the artwork and the viewer.'

The project entitled I saettatori will unfold in an exhibition realized in Elica's headquarters in Fabriano, and in a series of meetings/workshops for a group of the company's employees. Relating with the company, that has always been the Foundation's supporter, and with the people working there, the artist has carried out a mutual exchange of knowledge, ideas, and reflections on the technique of engraving, understood as a metaphor for work and research.

The exhibition will be open until 29 July 2011 and comprise two sets of works: the artist's site specific sculptures, and ten engravings by some of art history's masters: Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778), Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), Edouard Manet (1832-1883), Louise Nevelson (1889-1988), Anders Leonard Zorn (1860-1920), Hans Bellmer (1902-1975), Carol Rama (1918).


In this exhibition engraving becomes a metaphor for an Artist's work. This technique in fact summarizes the distinguishing aspects of the creative process, comprising all the different phases, from the original idea down to its realization.

'The title I saettatori (The archers) – explains the curator – was inspired by a drawing by Michelangelo in which nine archers, curiously with no arches in their hands, appear to be shooting driven by an irresistible force, as if they were transformed into arrows themselves. Like Michelangelo's archers are transformed into instruments in the hands of a force beyond their will and conscience, this small army of artists is capable of shooting its work across space and time.'

With this project Francesco Barocco involved a group of Elica's employees in the sharing of an artistic experience, rather than in the realization of a collective artwork. Breaking up the classic teacher centered lesson, the artist invited the participants to become familiar with some key figures of history of art by learning the engraving technique that united all those artists of the past.

The project is accompanied by an Italian/English catalogue by Mousse Publishing with texts by Marcello Smarrelli and Francesco Barocco.

The works in the exhibition will become part of Elica Contemporary, the art collection showcasing at Elica's headquarters in Fabriano that can be visited by appointment.
For information: segreteria@fondazionecasoli.org.

DETAILS
Ermanno Casoli Award. XII edition

Title of the project: I saettatori
Artist: Francesco Barocco
Curator: Marcello Smarrelli
Promoted by: Fondazione Ermanno Casoli
In collaboration with: Elica, Museo della Carta e della Filigrana di Fabriano
Under the patronage of: Italy's Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities

Venue: Elica, Via Dante n° 288, Fabriano (An)
Opening and press presentation: Monday 23 May 2011, 11 am, in the Meeting room at Museo della Carta e della Filigrana. Largo Fratelli Spacca, Fabriano (AN)
The exhibition will be open from 24 May to 29 July 2011
Times: from Monday to Saturday, by appointment
Entrance: free
Catalogue: Mousse Publishing
Video: Anton Giulio Onofri

Information
tel. +39 0732610801, fax. +39 0732610740, segreteria@fondazionecasoli.org, www.fondazionecasoli.org

Press Office
Fondazione Ermanno Casoli: Marta Colombo, mob. +39 340 3442805, ufficiostampa@fondazionecasoli.org
Ufficio Stampa Corporate Elica: Lea Ricciardi, mob. +39 335 66 72 892, L.Ricciardi@elica.com


With the contribution of:
Provincia di Ancona
Elica Group