Alex Urso's 'Painting Clouds' Opens at Thepòsito Art Space in Narni

Thepòsito Art Space, a new contemporary art venue in Narni, Umbria, inaugurated on June 8, 2024, with 'Painting Clouds,' a solo exhibition by Alex Urso (born 1987, Civitanova Marche). Curated by Lorenzo Rubini, the founder of Thepòsito—which began as a digital platform for art market consultancy and an artist residency before expanding into a physical exhibition space—the show explores the artist's labor beyond creative practice, focusing on economic sustenance. Urso critiques the romantic stereotype of the artist as a dreamer living solely on passion. The site-specific installation features a series of photographs taken daily over a year, depicting Urso 'painting clouds' in the sky. This gesture references his post-Academy years when he painted apartment interiors to fund his art. The exhibition layout arranges the photos in a compact grid resembling a Gothic window, creating a dialogue between interior and exterior. New mirror-like sculptures reflect the space and the viewer, encouraging introspection. The show draws on Franz Kafka's 1924 story 'A Hunger Artist' to address themes of isolation, spirituality, and fear of failure in a society that misunderstands artistic endeavor. The exhibition runs through August 31, 2024.