Simone's Sculptures at Galleria 206 – UnknowNow in Bari

Simone, a former scrapyard worker turned creative sculptor, is the subject of a solo exhibition at Galleria 206 – UnknowNow in Bari, curated by artist Fabrizio Bellomo. Bellomo discovered Simone in 2014 and cast him as the protagonist of his film L’Albero di Trasmissione, which documents Simone's life and his transformation into an artist in the San Cataldo district of Bari, an area undergoing urban redevelopment. The film premiered at various festivals including Festival Cinema del Reale, Festival dei Popoli, and Mymovies Live in 2016, and won the UCCA Arci award in 2017. Bellomo, who was selected by Mario Cucinella for the Italian Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale, transitioned from film to reality by organizing Simone's first solo show. The exhibition features Simone's eclectic sculptures made from salvaged mechanical parts, including motorcycles with spoons for mirrors and radiators replaced by heaters. Bellomo describes Simone's work as a visual assemblage that recalls the world of machinery and his father's inventive constructions. Simone's practice, suspended between kitsch and naif, reflects a lateral approach to the art system. The show runs until October 20, 2018.