FEDERICO SOLMI · 2020. 11. 2. · and mixed media on wood panel with shaped wood relief. Courtesy of Luis De Jesus, Los Angeles, Ronald Feldman Gallery, New York Assembled together
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FEDERICO SOLMI
THE BACCHANALIAN ONES
FedericoSolmiTheBacchanalianOnes
November2,2020–January9,2021
Videoinstallations,paintings,virtualreality,andaugmentedrealitybasedartworks.
Usinggameengines,motioncapture,digitalanimation,virtualandaugmentedrealitycombinedwithhisdrawingsandpaintings,Solmicreatessatiricalandclownishportrayalsofpoliticalleaders,colonialrulersandexplorersabsorbedinextravagantandderangedparties;pompous,imperiousparades;andtheatricalandcontrivedevents.
Inspiredbyancientmythology,modernmyth,andcontemporarycelebrityculture,Solmihasblendedtogetherhistoricalcharactersanddepictsthemasghoulish,self-indulgent,degeneratedevoteesofthecultsofBacchusandDionysusconcernedonlywiththeirownpowerandinfluence.Throughtheabsurdbehaviorofhischaracters,Solmiasksustoquestiontheirrelevanceandthedistortedhistoricalnarrative
thathasledtoaneraofmisinformation,corruption,andhypocrisy.
ThisexhibitionhasbeengenerouslyfundedbytheJosephRobertFoundation,withadditionalsupportfromtheNewJerseyStateCouncilontheArts.
WegreatlyappreciatetheassistanceandcontributionstothisprojectbyDr.ShreekanthMandayam,Professor,DepartmentofElectrical&ComputerEngineering,andGeorgeLacakes,DirectoroftheRowanVRCenterforhisconsultontheVR,anddesignrefinementanddigitalprintingofthe3-DVRheadsetmasks.
Also,thankstoWillCook,IRT,andAssociateProfessor,AmandaS.Almon,BiomedicalArt&Visualization,fortheirtechnicalconsultation.
AcatalogwillbeproducedforTheBacchanalianOneswithanessaybycelebratedauthorandartcriticEleanorHeartney.Ms.HeartneyisanindependentculturalcriticandauthorresidinginNewYorkCity.Currently,sheiscontributingeditorforArtinAmericaandArtPressandco-presidentoftheAmericanSectionoftheInternationalArtCriticsAssociation.ShehaswrittenformostmajorculturalpublicationsincludingArtnews,NewArtExaminer,the
WashingtonPost,Sculpture,andtheNewYorkTimes.SherecentlypublishedanewbookentitledDoomsdayDreams:TheApocalypticImaginationinContemporaryArt,whichincludesFedericoSolmi.
ThisprojectisaRowanUniversityArtGalleryproduction,curatedbyMarySalvante,GalleryDirector.
ABOUTTHEARTIST
Solmisaysofhiswork,“Ialwaysbelievedthatartcanbeusedasaneffectivetoolforsocialchange.Artformeit’savehicletofightinjustices,atooltospreadawarenessandindependentthinking.WithmyartworksIhopetoinspirepeopletodiscoverfacts,totrytodecoderealityfromfiction,historicaltruthfrompropaganda.OneofthegreatestdifficultiesIencounteredwhenImovedtoUnitedStatesin1999,wastodecipherAmericanhistory,itscontradictionsandinaccuraciesthatIoftenencounteredinmyresearchandreflections.Ihadalotoftroublesdistinguishingtherealityofhistoricalfacts,unequivocal,fromthegovernmentpropagandatoldinthebooks.IstronglybelievedthatonlyifIhadbeenabletounderstandtheoriginsofthisnation,initsroots,wouldIonedayunderstandthesocietyinwhichIhadchosentolive,andonlythusoneday,wouldIhavebeenabletohavemysay.”
FedericoSolmi(Italy,1973)isamulti-disciplinaryartistbasedinNewYork.In2009,SolmiwasawardedbytheGuggenheimFoundationofNewYorkwiththeJohnSimonGuggenheimMemorialFellowshipinthecategoryofVideo&Audio.His
workhasbeenincludedinseveralinternationalBiennials,including:OpenSpaces:AKansasCityArtsExperience(2018),theBeijingMediaArtBiennale(2016),FrankfurtB3BiennialoftheMovingimage(2017-2015),theFirstShenzhenAnimationBiennialinChina(2013),the54thVeniceBiennial(2011),andtheSITESantaFeBiennialinNewMexico(2010).From2016to2019FedericoSolmiwasvisitingProfessoratYaleUniversitySchoolofArtandYaleSchoolofDrama,NewHavenCT.
Solmihasseveralforthcomingmuseumsoloexhibitions,including;TheBlockMuseumofNorthwesternUniversity(2022),MorrisMuseum,Morristown,NewJersey(2021),TucsonMuseumofArt,TucsonArizona(2020),andupcominggroupexhibitionatSmithsonianNationalPortraitGallery.WashingtonDCandTheBlockMuseumofNorthwesternUniversity(2020).Mostrecently,Solmi’sworkwasfeaturedinTimesSquareNewYorkfortheMidnightmomentandinasoloexhibitionintheRonaldFeldmanGalleryboothatthe2019ArmoryShow(NY).FormoreinformationaboutFedericoSolmi’sworkvisit:https://www.federicosolmi.com
ARTWORKCHECKLIST
TheGreatDebauchery,2019Acrylicpaint,goldandsilverleaf,penandink,mixedmediaon3woodpanelswithshapedwoodrelief.72x240x3incheswithTheJubilantTricksters,2020ARExperience,XIXCenturycamerareplica,IPAD
Courtesy of Luis De Jesus, Los Angeles, Ronald Feldman Gallery, New York
InthescaleandsplendorofAmericanandEuropeanhistorypainting,TheGreatDebaucherybothpayshomageandsatiricallypokesfunatwhatnowhasbecomeastoicdisplayoffamousandinfamoushistoricalfiguresonhorseback,whileAmericanflagscompletelyengulfthespacearoundthem.Therushoffiguresandhorseswiththeirfacialgrimacesandwily,sharpenedteethareaggressivelycompressedontotheforegroundofthepictureplane.Withthisfrighteningandterrifying,quasi-comicalcavalcade,weareremindedthathistoryisnotalwaysglorious,dignified,norchivalrousasonemightthink.
TheBathhouse,2020 Acrylicpaint,mixedmedia,goldandsilverleafonPlexiglass,LEDscreens,videoloopmin(9:46sec),72x240x5inches.OriginalmusicbyKwangHoonHan
Courtesy of Luis De Jesus, Los Angeles, Ronald Feldman Gallery, New York
WorldleadershavegatheredintheluxuryofaRoman-villathemedmansionforanextravagantgalatocelebratetheirenduringglory.Pompouslydressedinsilksandarmors,theroyalguestsarewelcomedwithbottlesofchampagneandmartiniscocktailsastheyfileintoaspaceadornedwithantiquesculpturesandmosaicsaswellasthefinestexamplesofthecontemporaryartworld.Theyswaggerthroughthevilla,asglamorousasthegreatestpop-icons,deckedoutinrichestoastingtothenight,wettingthemarblefloorswithspilledchampagne.Asthenightprogresses,everyminuteofspectacleisaccuratelyplannedandhasbeenrecordedbyever-presentcamerasformoremomentousarchivesofhistory.Oncetheorchestrastartstoplay,fillingthebathhousewithmusic,theguestsdancetogether,immersedinanambianceofBacchanalianpleasure.Leadersbecomechildrenatplay;theyarenowenjoyingsplashingwaterateachotherandengaginginsimulatedwargames.Thenighteventisanescalationofcelebratoryspectacle.Fromaliveorchestra,tocircusperformances,thehighprofileguestsareimmersedinalavishpartycustomizedfortheireverlastingpleasure.
TheIndulgentFathers,2019Acrylicpaint,mixedmediaonPlexiglass,LEDscreen,videoloop(min3:51,sec),48x72x5inches.
CourtesyofLuisDeJesus,LosAngeles,RonaldFeldmanGallery,NewYork
Lostontheopenseas,abandofcharactersreminiscentofpilgrimsandfoundingfathers,havedescendedintoabizarredisplayofbacchanalianbehavior,entertainedbyeccentricmusiciansanddancers.Theseiconicfiguresblatantlycontradicttheirownstatusesastheincorruptiblenation-buildersknowntousinthetextbooks.
TheKindheartedDemagogues,2020
TheAmiableDeceivers,2020
TheAffectionateCharlatans,2020Acrylicpaint,goldleaf,silverleaf,penandink,andmixedmediaonwoodpanelwithshapedwoodrelief.
CourtesyofLuisDeJesus,LosAngeles,RonaldFeldmanGallery,NewYork
Assembledtogetherforapressconferenceinalush,tropicalsetting,theworld’smostinfamousidols,politicians,andconquistadorshavetakenthestagetoannouncetheirownhistoricallegacies.Triumphant,theystandbeforeus,presentedmorelikeA-listcelebritiesthanthehonorableleaderstheyareotherwisebelievedtobe.
TheMastermind,2018Oneofakindbook,madeandboundbyhand.Acrylicpaint,goldleaf,silverleaf,mixedmediaontarlatan,paper,andfoamcore.24x18x2inches(closed);24x36inches,(openpaintingspread)6boundpaintings
CourtesyofLuisDeJesus,LosAngeles,RonaldFeldmanGallery,NewYork
Aquasi-historytextbookinwhichtheconventionalstoryofthediscoveryofAmericaandsettlementbecomesanaccountoftheruthlesstheftofthelandfromitsoriginalinhabitants.
TheDreadfulOnes,2017VRExperience,VRsetOculusGowithHandPainted3Dprintedmasks
CourtesyofLuisDeJesus,LosAngeles,RonaldFeldmanGallery,NewYork
BelovedanddespisedleadersthroughouthistoryaccompanyPresidentDonaldTrumponanexorbitantlypatrioticandcarnival-esquelimousineparadetohisinauguralballattheWhiteHouse.GeneralRobertE.LeeandBenitoMussolinisitoneithersideofPresidentTrump,gentlywavingtotheadoringmassesandsmokingcigars.
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