Emma Helene Moriconi's Microscopic Bodies at Villa Clea

Emma Helene Moriconi (Milan, 1997; lives in New York) presents 'Intimus', a solo exhibition at Villa Clea in Milan, curated by Allina. The show explores three years of painterly research into the inner body, blending geological and biological elements. Moriconi's work is influenced by her adolescent diagnosis of an autoimmune disease, which led her to study medical imaging of her own organs. She cites artist Ilana Halperin's concept of 'Geological Intimacy', poet Etel Adnan's reflections on life and nature, and physicist Carlo Rovelli's ideas on time and space. Her paintings use oil, wax, rabbit glue, jute, and silk to create layered compositions resembling skin and tissue. Works like 'The Alteration of Olivine II' and 'The Veins of Red Iddingsite' depict mineral transformations that echo human anatomy. She draws on historical scientific illustration, from Robert Hooke's microscopic drawings to Galileo's lunar watercolors. Moriconi's practice aims to challenge human-centered hierarchies and foster ecological awareness, inspired by anthropologist Anna Tsing's concept of 'more-than-human sociality'. The exhibition runs at Villa Clea, a hybrid living and exhibition space.