Giulio Paolini's 'Qui dove sono' at Galleria Christian Stein, Milan

Galleria Christian Stein in Milan presents 'Qui dove sono', a solo exhibition by Giulio Paolini (Genoa, 1940) running from October 2020. The title references a 2018-19 work and pays homage to the late gallerist Christian Stein, who opened her Turin gallery in 1966. Paolini first exhibited there in 1967, and their lifelong bond lasted until Stein's death in 2003 at over 90. The show features five works, three created specifically for this occasion, and celebrates Paolini's upcoming 80th birthday in November. 'In volo' (2019-20) depicts Icarus and Ganymede, referencing mythology and French painter Charles Paul Landon. 'Vis-à-vis (Kore)' splits a Hellenistic maiden head cast into two halves, exploring duality, absence, and presence. 'La casa brucia' (1987-2004) and 'Passatempo' (with a 1971 portrait under glass and astral motifs) reflect on time's passage. The titular work 'Qui dove sono' (2019) comprises collages evoking metaphysical spaces reminiscent of de Chirico, alluding to Paolini's studio in Piazza Vittorio, Turin. The exhibition underscores Paolini's shy persona and his integral role in art history.