Fabio Mauri's Apocalyptic Drawings at Viasaterna Milan

Viasaterna in Milan presents 'Fabio Mauri. Opere dall’Apocalisse,' a survey of the Italian artist's drawings curated by Francesca Alfano Miglietti in collaboration with Studio Fabio Mauri and Hauser & Wirth. The exhibition features 49 works, including three previously unseen series: Apocalisse, Scorticati, and Dramophone. A photograph from Mauri's iconic performance 'Ebrea' (1971) is displayed for the first time. The show emphasizes drawing as a central practice for Mauri, with original frames highlighting its importance. The Apocalypse theme is explored through its Greek root meaning 'unveiling,' with drawings that strip away representation to reveal essence. Bright yellows and blues counterpoint the dominant black, as noted by gallerist Irene Crocco. Text appears in works like 'THEEND' running continuously across the surface, suggesting no true ending. The Scorticati series surprises with fluorescent pink skeletons, referencing Baroque iconography and Quattrocento Florentine gestures. A video interview by Gianfranco Pangrazio, filmed months before Mauri's death, presents his view of art as patience akin to fishing. Miglietti describes the exhibition as forward-looking, warning that historical conditions recur in new guises. The show runs at Viasaterna, Milan, in 2021.