Antonello Viola's Gold Leaf Paintings at Rome Exhibition

A solo exhibition of works by Antonello Viola (born Rome, 1966) is on view in Rome. The show features new paintings on Japanese rice paper, characterized by slow, soft processuality where deep feeling becomes color, sign, and material. Blue, crimson, and brown tones are visible along the edges, evidence of chromatic battles. Compact gold leaf glazes protect the inner turmoil like treasure chests, shielding them from time. Critic Davide Ferri writes that the artist begins a meticulous process of excavation, revealing underlying layers and the material life of the painting in small areas and along margins. An environmental installation in the large hall incorporates glass, which gives light and volume to the paintings and harmonizes with the other works.