Curated by Giuseppe Pizzuto
Critical essay by Antonella Di Lullo
Freedom is considered one of the most important ideals by nearly all of humanity. With boundary lines that shift according to any given period of history, or differing cultures, it has long been a topic of discussion amongst philosophers and intellectuals alike; it is constantly analysed from subjective and partial viewpoints. Today, the word freedom is too often overused, distorted and even exploited to justify intolerable actions worldwide. The concept of freedom activates complex themes, foremost of which is the relationship between individuality and group identity. What are the limits of our individual personal freedom? When might our “free” actions begin to damage the community to which we belong? In this exhibition, each artist explored these questions and gave Form to Freedom. In this sense, the show Freedom as Form directed attention also to the artists’ aesthetics, distinctive and different for each one, as a metaphor for their freedom of expression.
BR1 (Locri, 1984) lives and works in Turin. With a preference for spontaneous, ephemeral interventions created in the public space, the artist tackles social themes like immigration, gender discrimination, the tension between modernity and tradition, and the impact of the capitalistic system on other cultures and societies. Performances, installations, and colourful posters that take over the spaces normally reserved for advertising billboards invite the observer to independently and actively reflect on these topics.
Alexis Diaz (Puerto Rico, 1982) began painting on walls in 2010. The artist developed a meticulous, precise painting technique that, through ink and tiny, free-hand brush strokes, allows him to achieve extraordinarily realistic results. The subjects of his depictions are chimeric creatures in a state of metamorphosis; combinations of animals, organic forms, and natural elements inspired by the ecosystem of the place where the artist works. The aesthetic power of his images, combined with the refined technique, gives Alexis Diaz’s artworks an absolutely unique style.
Eron (Rimini, 1973) is regarded as one of the most important Graffiti artists in Italy, and a pioneer in the Writing scene. His artworks, with their strong visual and social impact, are created through a highly-personalized painting technique. In fact, thanks to his skillful mastery of spray-paint, the artist creates a delicate sfumato that lends an incorporeal and evocative aesthetic result to his works. Eron has shown at many prestigious institutions including the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome, the Biennial in Venice, and the Chelsea Art Museum in New York.
Faith47 (Capetown, South Africa, 1979) is an artist of internationally recognized talent, whose artistic production oscillates between outdoor installations and studio pieces. Faith47 loves to freely experiment with a vast range of techniques and materials, through which she develops her interior narrative and investigates themes such as the sacred and the ordinary, the human condition and its existential search. For the show at Wunderkammern, Faith47 presented graphite and ink on paper artworks from the series 7.83HZ Frequency, which focuses on the ideas of human nature, sensitivity, and intimate relations.
