Maria Sofia Caligiuri's latest work, Rilievi, is a series of mixed media on paper. The artist, using the skills of printmaker and sculptor, explores the traces left behind by nature and humans, uncovering their implications about existence. By reshaping the imprint of objects from everyday life and molding the forms with precious paper, the artist transforms them in a visual narrative at a unique moment of their existence: their rediscovery. After many years spent mastering colors in oil painting, the artist opens herself without restraint to a wide range of unusual materials and the challenge of white and black, and the shades in between. Her work mirrors the artistic journey of artists from the Art Povera period over forty years ago. The objects she chose speak for themselves, sometimes screaming, sometimes whispering an ancestral voice that cannot be ignored. The Rilievi captures the soul of the spectator, forced to retrace the steps of memory, and through a journey towards immensity and fragility, rediscovers traces of life. Antonella Manganelli Director of Marninart, Inc Modern and Contemporary Art
The Minimi Rilievi collection is crafted by printing and embossing Arches and Fabriano papers. These pieces display themes of Maria Sofia Caligiuri’s everyday life. Minimi Rilievi: Tracce Marine (Nature) and Tracce di Civilizzazione. Tracce Marine explore the rustic marine wilderness of Calabria, and its lacy intricacy. In contrast, Tracce di Civilizzazione is a composition of layered satin papers and crude tissue that veil and retain elements of iron and copper. It portrays the human footprint of concrete and rusty metal which often "spoils" coastlines. Tracce dell’Uomo represents traces of human artifacts, while Tracce in Natura represents floral images and footprints in the woods.
Tracce nel bosco Traces in the wood Plaster on Fabriano paper. Dimensions: 11" x 16"
Tracce dell’uomo Traces of human Plaster on Fabriano paper. Dimensions: 11" x 16"
Tracce marine B Sea Traces B Plaster on Arches paper. Dimensions: 9" x 14"
Tracce marine verticali Sea Traces vertical Plaster on Arches paper. Dimensions: 9" x 14"
Tracce marine 2 Sea Traces 2 Plaster on Arches paper. Dimensions: 9" x 14"
Tracce marine A Sea Traces A Ecoline, Plaster on Arches paper. Dimensions: 9" x 14"
Tracce marine B Sea Traces B Ecoline, Plaster on Arches paper. Dimensions: 9" x 14"
Tracce orizzontali nel bosco A Traces in the wood horizontal A Plaster on Arches paper. Dimensions: 9" x 14"
Ritracciata Retraced Plaster and Cardboard on Black Coarse Paper Dimensions: 10.5" x 15.5"
Tracce di natura morta Still Life Traces Plaster and Wood on Gray Coarse Paper Dimensions: 10.5" x 15.5"
Tracce di civilizzazione A Traces of Civilization A Plaster on Coarse Papers and Tissue, Copper and Iron Dimensions: 10.5" x 15.5"
Tracce di civilizzazione B Traces of Civilization B Plaster on Coarse Papers and Tissue, Copper and Iron Dimensions: 10.5" x 15.5"
Tracce di civilizzazione C Traces of Civilization C Plaster and Metals on Coarse Papers, Tissue, and Red Fabric Dimensions: 10.5" x 15.5"
Tracce di civilizzazione D Traces of Civilization D Plaster and Metals on Coarse Papers, Tissue, and Red Fabric Dimensions: 10.5" x 15.5"
Tracce verticali nel bosco A Traces in the Wood A Plaster on Arches Paper Dimensions: 9" x 14"
Tracce verticali nel bosco B Traces in the Wood B Plaster on Arches Paper Dimensions: 9" x 14"
The Tracce dei Minimi Rilievi collection naturally progresses into Massimi Rilievi the Evidences collection where the evolution of the concepts manifest themselves tangibly in a quasi-spherical form. In the Evidence of Triton and the Evidence of Shells, the marine element asserts itself by defying the conventional role of art as a representation of reality. Evidences depicts proof of the passage of time with tones spanning the luminous variations of the day to the saturated tones of the night. Similarly, the First Vortex and the Second Vortex assert the ephemeral nature of life through the representation of marine elements, moments before their disappearance into the vacuum of existence. This imagery emphasizes the idea that the impermanence of all phenomena underlies the search for the meaning of life. Likewise, the synthesis of fragility and fullness portrayed in A Dozen Eggs represents the beautiful dichotomy of form and content that acts as a metaphor for life. The evanescent and luminescent way in which the mineral ingredient in A Dozen Eggs and Three Rocks of Salt captures the light symbolizes the intrinsic knowledge of man which is awakened by his search for awareness and the exploration of his own potential.
Evidenze di Tritone Evidence of Triton Plaster on Arches Paper Dimensions: 32" x 40"
Evidenze di Tritone notturne Night Triton Evidence Yolk and glue on Arches Paper Dimensions: 32" x 40"
Evidenze marine orizzontali Horizontal Sea Evidence Plaster on Arches Paper Dimensions: 32" x 40"
Evidenze marine verticali Vertical Sea Evidence Plaster on Arches Paper Dimensions: 32" x 40"
Una dozzina di uova A Dozen Eggs Plaster on Arches Paper Dimensions: 32" x 40"
Una dozzina di uova e tre pietre di sale A Dozen Eggs and Three Stone of Salt Plaster and salt on Arches Paper Dimensions: 32" x 40"
Evidenze di conchiglie Evidence of Shells Plaster on Arches Paper Dimensions: 32" x 40"
Evidenze di conchiglie di notte Shells Evidence on the Night Yolk and glue on Arches Paper Dimensions: 32" x 40"
Primo vortice A First Vortex A Plaster on Arches Paper Dimensions: 32" x 40"
Secondo vortice A Second Vortex A Plaster on Arches Paper Dimensions: 32" x 40"
I am an Italian artist who lives and works in the Metropolitan Area of Washington DC. I was born in Calabria and later moved to Rome where I studied as a painter at the Academy of Fine Arts under Alberto Ziveri. My favorite teachers included Fiorella Diamantini and Arnoldo Ciarrocchi, an exquisite Master Etcher who also taught Maccari. We used to have etching lessons on Saturday mornings, while eating pizza bianca sprinkled with oil and salt accompanied by a couple sips of wine. In this way, students enjoyed both intellectual and physical nourishment. I remember that it felt like a mystical experience each time. I illustrated several journals in Italy. Published two books “Le Novellette” Artemide Edizioni, Roma Italy 2004 and “The Fief, a story of love and other virtues” Artemide Edizioni, 2002 Roma, Italy. http://www.artemide-edizioni.com/letteratura.html I have held exhibitions of my work in Italy and in the United States. http://www.marninart.net/sofiacaligiuri http://caligiurifineart.com/home.html
Maria Sofia Caligiuri 10102 Cedar Lane. Kensington, MD 20895 - Ph: (301) 221 7021 - sofia@caligiurifineart.com