Francesco De Grandi on Painting, Time, and the Sacred
In a conversation with Artribune, painter Francesco De Grandi, who hails from Palermo and was born in 1968, reflects on his artistic evolution and principles. He attended the Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo before spending time in Milan from 1994 to 2008 and in Shanghai from 2009 to 2012, ultimately returning to his hometown. His recent exhibitions feature 'Aurea Hora' at Fondazione Sicilia Pinacoteca di Villa Zito in Palermo, 'COME CREATURA' at RizzutoGallery in 2018, 'Fragmente des Unbekannten' at Gartenpavillon Malkasten in Düsseldorf in 2016, and 'Archetipi della pittura inquieta' at Convento del Carmine in Marsala in 2014. De Grandi views his artwork as a quest for the sacred and a political statement, with drawing being a key component of his approach, which he refers to as 'Apparato Disegnante.'
Key facts
- Francesco De Grandi was born in Palermo in 1968.
- He studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo.
- He lived in Milan (1994–2008), Shanghai (2009–2012), and returned to Palermo.
- Solo show 'Aurea Hora' at Fondazione Sicilia Pinacoteca di Villa Zito, Palermo.
- Solo show 'COME CREATURA' at RizzutoGallery, Manifesta 12 Collateral Event, Palermo, 2018.
- Solo show 'Fragmente des Unbekannten' at Gartenpavillon Malkasten, Düsseldorf, 2016.
- Solo show 'Archetipi della pittura inquieta' at Convento del Carmine, Marsala, 2014.
- Group show 'Foresta Urbana' at Museo Riso Palermo, 2019.
- Group show 'La Scuola di Palermo' at Museo Riso, Palermo, 2018.
- Group show 'Walking on the Planet' at Casa Masaccio, Casa Giovanni Mannozzi, Palazzo Panciatichi, San Giovanni Valdarno, 2018.
- De Grandi uses a palette of about ten colors plus special guests.
- He uses fluorescent paint with Wood technology (UV light).
- He defines drawing as the 'Apparato Disegnante' (Drawing Apparatus).
- He cites John Berger's 'Sul disegnare' (Il Saggiatore, Milan 2017).
- The interview is part of the 'Pittura lingua viva' series on Artribune.
- Interviewer: Damiano Gullì (Fidenza, 1979), curator at Triennale Milano.
Entities
Artists
- Francesco De Grandi
- Giotto
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Hokusai
- Jim Morrison
- Mozart
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- John Berger
- Luther Blissett
- Michel Houellebecq
- Philip K. Dick
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Rudolf Otto
- Georges Simenon
- Gurdjieff
- Luigi Presicce
- Sergio Troisi
- Wu Ming
- Lapassade
- Damiano Gullì
Institutions
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo
- Fondazione Sicilia Pinacoteca di Villa Zito
- RizzutoGallery
- Manifesta 12
- Gartenpavillon Malkasten
- Convento del Carmine
- Museo Riso
- Casa Masaccio
- Casa Giovanni Mannozzi
- Palazzo Panciatichi
- Triennale Milano
- Artribune
- Il Saggiatore
Locations
- Palermo
- Italy
- Milan
- Shanghai
- China
- Düsseldorf
- Germany
- Marsala
- San Giovanni Valdarno
- San Cesario di Lecce
- Fidenza