Valerio Berruti's Dual Exhibitions in Verona Explore Childhood and Shadow

Italian artist Valerio Berruti (b. 1977, Alba) presents two concurrent exhibitions in Verona: "Paradise Lost" at MARCOROSSI gallery and "Just Kids" in Piazza Duomo, both running until November 15, 2016. Curated by Marco Enrico Giacomelli, the shows feature Berruti's signature child figures—primarily his son Zeno—rendered in essential, modern strokes and archeological materials like lacquered shadows on tapestries and cement reliefs. The works explore themes of innocence, shadow as a metaphor for loss of innocence, and childhood's capacity for presence. In Piazza Duomo, the installation "Just Kids" (sharing its title with Patti Smith's autobiography) invites public interaction, drawing passersby into selfies mimicking the children's poses. A video animation with a soundtrack by musician Joan As Police Woman is forthcoming. The exhibitions highlight Berruti's ability to evoke a sense of something to be saved on the eve of great change.