Agostino Arrivabene's Solo Exhibition in Lugano Connects Alda Merini and Persephone

Agostino Arrivabene, born in Rivolta d'Adda in 1967, is a contemporary Italian painter known for his solitary path and deep knowledge of classical tradition, acquired through years of contemplation in European museum collections. He uses alchemical techniques such as egg tempera, encaustic, and oil glazes, learning from masters like Leonardo, Dürer, van Eyck, and Rembrandt. His solo exhibition "Aprire le Zolle. Memorie del sottosuolo" is currently on view at Primo Marella Gallery in Lugano, opened on June 21, the summer solstice. The title references Alda Merini's poem "Sono nata il 21 a primavera," which Arrivabene encountered in the early 1990s when Merini recited a poem for him, touching on his difficult childhood. The exhibition centers on portraits of Persephone (Proserpina), a figure that has long accompanied Arrivabene's work, representing the crossing between light and shadow, life and death. In his paintings, Persephone is depicted in her darker aspect as the Queen of the Elsewhere, using materials like roots, vegetal tissues, and fungi. One work, "Erbario," incorporates taxidermied flowers in a technique inspired by medieval herbals. The exhibition also features an interview with the artist by Aldo Premoli.