Hermann Bergamelli's 'Valgua' Exhibition at A+B Gallery in Brescia

Hermann Bergamelli (born 1990 in Bergamo) presents his second solo show at A+B Gallery in Brescia, titled 'Valgua,' referencing a location in Bergamo's province known for forests and cliffs where he rock climbs. The exhibition features seven paintings he calls 'sottrazioni' (subtractions), created by applying oil paint with his hands and then scraping it away with a palette knife. This subtractive method reflects his anarchic spirit and search for freedom, while also liberating viewers into reflection. Bergamelli's practice involves a dialectic with nature, inspired by Henry David Thoreau. The works, predominantly blue and dark green monochromes, reveal vibrations, textures, frottage, and shadows up close, evoking ambiguous spaces—ocean depths, sandy floors, vertical cliffs, tree trunks, or shrouds. Philosopher Felice Cimatti contributed critical text, describing Bergamelli's process as an 'intertwining of vision and movement' and a 'peculiar blend of project and absence of project.' The artist returns to traditional canvas and frame after earlier series like 'Immersions' (random fabric dyeing), 'Stratifications' (tears, stitching, jersey overlays), and 'Compressions' (thinning fabric layers in a clamp). His work operates at the edge of chaos, in the 'junction point' between seeing and acting, embracing randomness and process over objecthood. The exhibition runs at A+B Gallery in Brescia.