Maurizio Savini's Chewing Gum Sculptures at NEA Napoli
Maurizio Savini (Rome, 1962) presents a solo exhibition at NEA Napoli, featuring sculptures and 'paintings' made from colored chewing gum. The works depict faces, scenes, and objects from Italian history, using the material as a metaphor for societal change. Savini traces chewing gum's origins from Mayan balls to Thomas Adams's 1871 commercialization in New Jersey, later flavored by pharmacist John Colgan. By 1890, industrial processing and advertising made it a global consumer product. Savini critiques mass society's departure from true values, highlighting both opportunities and excesses, including in politics. His pop-colored art looks positively toward the future.
Key facts
- Maurizio Savini was born in Rome in 1962.
- The exhibition is held at NEA Napoli.
- Savini uses colored chewing gum as his primary material.
- Chewing gum was first invented by the Maya as balls.
- Thomas Adams commercialized chewing gum in 1871 in New Jersey.
- John Colgan added flavor to chicle from the Mexican sapodilla tree.
- By 1890, chewing gum became mass-consumed due to food processing and advertising.
- Savini's work critiques mass society and political excesses.
Entities
Artists
- Maurizio Savini
Institutions
- NEA Napoli
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- New Jersey
- United States
- Mexico