Pierpaolo Curti Interview: Painting as Living Language
Pierpaolo Curti, born in 1972 in Lodi where he lives and works, discusses his artistic practice in an interview. He began painting at age 15 with his uncle. His recent solo exhibitions include 'La scatola' at Ex fonderia 21, Lodi (2019), 'Lirica del vuoto' at Arca Itis, Trieste (2019), 'Path 21' at Galleria Michela Rizzo, Venice (2018), and 'White Corner' at Palazzo Collicola, Spoleto (2016). Group shows include 'La face autre de l’autre face' at Fondazione Mudima, Milan (2021), 'Assembramenti' at Galleria Michela Rizzo, Venice (2020), 'My Way – A modo mio' at MAMbo, Bologna (2017), 'Istante Gesto Vibrazione' at Gattafame Art Gallery, Bernareggio (2017), and 'Close Up' at Palazzo Collicola, Spoleto (2015). Curti cites influences from Japanese painting, medieval religious icons, cave paintings, Burri, Giacometti, Kiefer, Tim Eitel, Wim Wenders, Elger Esser, Giotto, Bill Viola, and musicians Joep Beving, Brian Eno, Sakamoto, Cohen, and Hisaishi. He does not make preparatory sketches, paints from memory, and favors large formats. His work explores themes of waiting, suspension, silence, solitude, and passage (gates, bridges, stairs). He describes his painting as slow, using gray as a hospitable color, and emphasizes the importance of emptiness as welcoming. He also creates installations and videos. Curti is also a football coach.
Key facts
- Pierpaolo Curti was born in 1972 in Lodi, Italy.
- He began painting at age 15 with his uncle.
- Solo exhibition 'La scatola' at Ex fonderia 21, Lodi, 2019.
- Solo exhibition 'Lirica del vuoto' at Arca Itis, Trieste, 2019.
- Solo exhibition 'Path 21' at Galleria Michela Rizzo, Venice, 2018.
- Solo exhibition 'White Corner' at Palazzo Collicola, Spoleto, 2016.
- Group show 'La face autre de l’autre face' at Fondazione Mudima, Milan, 2021.
- Group show 'Assembramenti' at Galleria Michela Rizzo, Venice, 2020.
- Group show 'My Way – A modo mio' at MAMbo, Bologna, 2017.
- Group show 'Istante Gesto Vibrazione' at Gattafame Art Gallery, Bernareggio, 2017.
- Group show 'Close Up' at Palazzo Collicola, Spoleto, 2015.
- Curti cites influences from Japanese painting, medieval icons, cave paintings, Burri, Giacometti, Kiefer, Tim Eitel, Wim Wenders, Elger Esser, Giotto, Bill Viola, and musicians Joep Beving, Brian Eno, Sakamoto, Cohen, Hisaishi.
- He does not make preparatory sketches or paint from life; he paints from memory.
- He prefers large formats to allow viewers to enter the work.
- His work explores themes of waiting, suspension, silence, solitude, and passage.
- He describes his painting as slow and uses gray as a hospitable color.
- He also creates installations and videos.
- Curti is also a football coach.
Entities
Artists
- Pierpaolo Curti
- Burri
- Giacometti
- Kiefer
- Tim Eitel
- Wim Wenders
- Elger Esser
- Giotto
- Bill Viola
- Joep Beving
- Brian Eno
- Sakamoto
- Cohen
- Hisaishi
Institutions
- Ex fonderia 21
- Arca Itis
- Galleria Michela Rizzo
- Palazzo Collicola
- Fondazione Mudima
- MAMbo
- Gattafame Art Gallery
Locations
- Lodi
- Italy
- Trieste
- Venice
- Spoleto
- Milan
- Bologna
- Bernareggio