Desire and Solitude: Two Solo Shows at Di Marino in Naples

Galleria Umberto Di Marino and Casa Di Marino in Naples present twin solo exhibitions exploring desire and solitude through distinct artistic practices. At Casa Di Marino, Portuguese artist Isadora Neves Marques (b. 1984, Lisbon) debuts "Love in the Paleolithic," a series of paintings inspired by a Paleolithic rock engraving from the Côa Valley in northern Portugal depicting a man penetrating a bull. The works, created after a long hiatus from painting, interrogate desire as a pre-cultural force. The paintings form the first chapter of a broader research project that will culminate in a forthcoming film. Meanwhile, at the gallery, Milanese artist Guendalina Cerruti (b. 1992) presents "Guendalina malatesta," an installation built from beads, threads, embroidery, butterflies, and decorative details that construct dreamlike yet constrictive environments. The works evoke childhood creativity and adolescent bedrooms, but incorporate metal cages and grids suggesting emotional containment. Cerruti's practice addresses shared fragility, generational isolation, and the pressure of performativity. Both exhibitions use dreams as an alternative lens on reality. The shows run until July 30, 2026, at Via Monte di Dio, 9, Naples.