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

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.