Catalogue curated by Thereza Pedrosa In collaboration with Beautiful People Live Art Catalogue Tipografia Sartore, Fontaniva (Padua), Italy Photo Credits Paolo Terzi, Thereza Pedrosa Gigi Mariani wishes to express a special acknowledgement to Maria Rosa Franzin and Thereza Pedrosa Gigi Mariani Via Carteria, 9 41121 Modena www.GigiMariani.it info@gigimariani.it
I remember Gigi looking at me inquisitively several years ago. It was an unvoiced question directed at his work. Now Gigi has answered his own question: he has developed his research and taken it further, finding a path and the answers he was looking for. He has realised that the essence of his work is constructed with patience and perseverance, studying shapes and awaiting their positive response. He knows that there is no hurry or randomness in the creation of an object and that technical know-how, together with dedication, is the basis for construction. The power in his painting, which is expressionist with an instinctive gestural character, is now expressed with the technique and use of niello, an ancient material, which he applies to shapes and volumes. It is not the power of colour alone but of plasticity, which makes his pieces strong and expressive. When we worked together he made constructive use of his curiosity for all new things and his commitment to learning. That moment unveiled new possibilities to him. In the past few years his work has become recognisable and important. What I appreciate about Gigi is his clarity and willingness to listen.
Maria Rosa Franzin Goldsmithery design teacher P. Selvatico Institute, Padua
Ricordo, alcuni anni fa, Gigi mi ha rivolto uno sguardo interrogativo. Era una domanda senza parole diretta al suo lavoro. Ora Gigi ha risposto da solo a quella sua domanda, ha sviluppato ed ampliato la sua ricerca trovando la via e la risposta. Ha inteso che il senso del proprio lavoro si costruisce con la pazienza e la costanza, lo studio delle forme e l’attesa della loro risposta positiva. Gli `e chiaro che non esiste la fretta e la casualit`a nella vita di un oggetto, che la conoscenza tecnica `e il mezzo per la costruzione, unito alla dedizione. La forza nella sua pittura, espressionista e con gestualit`a istintiva, la esprime ora con la tecnica e l’uso del niello, materia antica, che egli pone sulle forme ed i volumi. Non `e forza di solo colore ma plasticit`a che rende i suoi pezzi forti ed espressivi. Quando abbiamo lavorato insieme ha reso costruttiva la sua curiosit`a del nuovo e l’impegno nella conoscenza. Quel momento gli ha rivelato nuove possibilit`a. In questi ultimi anni il suo lavoro `e divenuto riconoscibile ed importante. In Gigi apprezzo la sua chiarezza e disponibilit`a all’ascolto.
Maria Rosa Franzin Professore di progettazione orafa Istituto P. Selvatico, Padova
Each and every creation by Gigi Mariani is a microcosm of emotions enclosed in a jewel. Each work tells the story of a life; of love, suffering, identity and quest. Simultaneously it recounts itself and the human condition in general. Born and raised in the northern Italian city of Modena, from an early age Mariani began to seek a means of expression through which he could channel his overwhelming emotions. This led him to discover informal painting, which enabled him to transfer onto canvas all the strength, violence and humanity of his reflections on the world around him. Painting thus satisfies Gigi’s most visceral need to externalise his feelings. However, it is not enough because Gigi Mariani is not just a maelstrom of emotions, but also an extremely precise, methodical and enquiring character. It was these personality traits that prompted him, as a teenager, to attend the workshop of a master goldsmith from whom he learned the meticulously fine art of goldsmithery. Painting and goldsmithery thus became the tracks along which Gigi Mariani’s life rolled. For many years these tracks ran parallel, never touching. However, Gigi never stopped searching, questioning himself and peering far ahead to the horizon, where he saw the two tracks merge into one. It was with this vision in mind that the impossible became reality. In 2008, thanks to the teachings of master goldsmiths Graziano Visintin and Maria Rosa Franzin, Mariani learned the ancient technique of niello, which was to define his subsequent work. At last the tracks met and became one. Gigi’s traditional goldsmithery transformed into informal primitive and sculptural forms, in which niello is the pictorial material applied to canvases of silver and gold. Thereza Pedrosa
Ogni creazione di Gigi Mariani `e un microcosmo di emozioni racchiuso in un gioiello. Ciascuna opera narra una storia di vita, amore, sofferenza, identit`a e ricerca. Racconta contemporaneamente se stesso e la pi` u generale condizione umana. Nato e cresciuto nella citt`a di Modena, Mariani inizia fin dalla giovinezza a cercare uno strumento di espressione per le sue tumultuose ` cos`ı che scopre la pittura inemozioni. E formale, che gli permette di trasferire sulla tela tutta la forza, la violenza, l’umanit`a delle riflessioni sul mondo che lo circonda. La pittura soddisfa dunque il pi` u intimo bisogno di Gigi di esternare i suoi sentimenti. Tuttavia non `e sufficiente, perch´e Gigi Mariani non rivela solo un tumulto di emozioni, ma anche una personalit`a estremamente precisa, metodica e curiosa. Questi aspetti del suo carattere lo portano, ancora adolescente, a frequentare il laboratorio di un maestro orafo dal quale apprende la minuziosit`a della tecnica orafa. Pittura e oreficeria si rivelano dunque le strade della vita professionale di Gigi Mariani. Per molti anni scorrono parallele, senza mai toccarsi. Gigi per`o non smette di ricercare, di interrogarsi e guardare lontano, all’orizzonte, ` con dove vede queste due vie fondersi. E questa visione in mente che l’impossibile diventa realt`a. Nel 2008, grazie agli insegnamenti dei maestri Graziano Visintin e Maria Rosa Franzin, Mariani impara l’antica tecnica del niello, che definir`a tutto il suo lavoro successivo. Le strade finalmente si uniscono e amalgamano. Il tradizionale lavoro orafo di Gigi si trasforma in primitive e scultoree strutture informali, in cui il niello `e materia pittorica stesa su tele d’argento e oro. Thereza Pedrosa
Enjoy ring silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello, granulation, patina
Earrings silver, 18kt yellow gold, granulation, niello, patina
Cracks bracelet silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello
Cracks - In the box series ring silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello, patina
Glasses ring silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello, glass
Variations necklace silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello, patina
Witnesses ring silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello, patina
Dance bracelet silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello, patina
Not dark yet bracelet silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello, patina
Words necklace silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello, patina
Dreams brooch silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello, patina
ring 18kt yellow gold, silver, niello, patina
2013 Vice Chairman AGC Italy (Association Contemporary Jewelry). 2012 Curator with H. Herb – International jewelry Competition ”...Vices or lifestyle?”. 2011 Granulation Workshop with Giovanni Corvaja – Alchimia School – Florence, Italy. 2011 Mokume Gane Workshop with Giovanni Corvaja – Todi, Italy. 2009 Workshop with Graziano Visintin and Maria Rosa Franzin. Since 2001 Collaboration with the Archaeological Museum – Modena, Italy. 2001/02 Seminar on diamond grading, Camera di Commercio – Modena, Italy. 1985 Opening of his own studio in Modena, Italy. 1983 Apprenticeship by a Goldsmith’s laboratory. Awards: 2013 First prize Cominelli Foundation 2013 Award – Sal`o, Italy. 2012 Premio Joid’art - Enjoia’t 2012 – Barcelona, Spain. 2011 Exhibition Gioielli in Fermento – Torre Fornello, Italy. 2011 First prize On/Off Spazio Aperto Award 150◦ – Padua, Italy. Collections: Museo degli Argenti – Florence, Italy. Cominelli Foundation – Sal` o, Italy. Selected exhibitions: 2014 Spain, Barcelona. Joya. Latvia, Riga. Dream as Morning – Putti Art Gallery. Germany, Munich. Black is Beautiful – Hund Gallery. Latvia, Riga. Amber in Contemporary Art Jewellery. USA, Houston. La Frontera – Center of Contemporary Craft. 2013 Austria, Wien. Jewellery Power Warmth – Galerie Slavik. Mexico, Mexico City. La Frontera – Museo Franz Mayer. Italy, Treviso. Ring Party – TRA. Italy, Sal` o. Cominelli Foundation 2013 Award. Latvia, Riga. Fantastici! – Putti Art Gallery. USA, San Francisco. Velvet da Vinci. Latvia, Riga. Summer Session – Putti Art Gallery. Spain, Barcelona. Joya. Italy, Florence. F-utili jewels for Emergency. Italy, Padua. On/Off Spazio Aperto. France, Paris. Fil Rouge ` a Paris – Atelier Agatha Ruiz de La Prada. Italy, Rome. Jewel in Art “... G. Klimt” – University Nobil Collegio. USA, New York. The Genius of Nature – exhibition at Aaron Faber Gallery. China, Beijing. Beijing International Jewelry Art Exhibition. 2012 USA, Cambridge. Contemporary Vision of the Necklace, Art for the Ear, The Art of the Ring – Mobilia Gallery. Italy, Sal` o. Cominelli Foundation Award. Spain, Barcelona. Enjoia’t Award. Spain, Barcelona. Joya. France, Toulouse. Ring just ring – Galerie Violaine Ulmer. Poland, Warsaw. Amberif design Award. Italy, Rome. Gioie da condividere. Italy, Torre Fornello. Gioielli in Fermento. 2011 Italy, Torre Fornello. Gioielli in Fermento. Italy, Senigallia. AGC TI DO. Italy, Senigallia. AGC Ring Party. Italy, Rome. Winter Exhibition – Alternatives Gallery. Latvia, Riga. Conceptual Jewellery – Putti Art Gallery. Lithuania, Vilnius. International Biennale of Art Metalfonas. Latvia, Riga. White – Putti Art Gallery. Italy, Padua. On/Off Spazio Aperto – Premio Cisotto. Italy, Modena. The becoming of things: the dialogue between Artifizio and D. Milanesi – Galleria 42. Italy, Vicenza. New Directions Hall, VicenzaOro Choice – curator: Alba Cappellieri.