Matteo Baroni

All enquiries should be addressed to Novella Baroni at Tel. [44] (20) 7930-5347, or by e-mail: [email protected]

© Copyright Jean-Luc Baroni Ltd., 2012

designed by Novella Baroni and Saverio Fontini

photographs by Pietro Baroni

printed in Florence by Viol’Art Firenze – [email protected]

I would like to thank Edward Burtynsky for inspiring me during a stimulating conversation we had in Rome, Pietro Baroni for photographing the work and my friends and family for their support.I’m also grateful to my wife Giovanna and my children for their help and patience during the preparation of this show.

Matteo Baroni

an exhibition of sculptures by

Matteo Baroni

8th – 19th October 2012

Monday - Friday 10 am - 6 pm Saturday and Sunday 12 am - 6 pm

-Jean Luc Baroni Ltd

Matteo Baroni

Education

2002-2005 Central St. Martin’s, London, BA (Hons) Fine Art 2001-2002 Byam Shaw School of Art, London, foundation course1996-1997 Fine Art Academy of Florence, sculpture course

Exhibitions

2009 Sculptures, Thomas Williams Fine Art, London, solo exhibition2008 Abitanti Ambienti, Galleria Il Ponte, Florence, group show2006 10+1 e il nuovo realismo, Grossteo Cassero Mediceo, Florence, group show2006 Il Luminismo, Spazio Polissena, Prato, solo show2005 Prospettiva Neo, Associazione Paradigma, Turin, group show

Residencies

2006 Design assistant, Universita La Sapienza, Rome

By carefully cutting, modelling and welding together scrap iron and copper pieces, Matteo Baroni embraces the concept of “upcycling”, or adding value to discarded material. He believes this can be achieved exclusively through the sensitivity of the human hand, which he considers the only available technology capable of putting life back into discarded matter.

In this exhibition, Matteo presents three series of sculptures focused on different aspects of the human condition. The group of acrobats - some balancing in unstable positions - is a metaphor for humanity, which remains impassive even when on the brink of a precipice. Their serene facial expressions underline the contrast between their precious and fragile nature that hangs by a thread and their apparent calmness induced by the ignorance of danger. The idiocamera figures were born whilst the artist was having breakfast and reading a newspaper. He was shocked to find out how little information we actually (allow ourselves to) take in. By doing so many things at the same time such as reading or watching the television newscast, we have become accustomed to recording events without really processing them. Finally, the models portrayed in the last group are a tribute to the work of Canadian photographer and artist Edward Burtynsky. In his catalogue Oil, the beautifully composed images document the rather disconcerting effects that the extraction and use of oil are having on our lives. Matteo Baroni is similarly convinced that beauty is an effective way for an artist to convey a message and he was inspired to add depth to the two-dimensional images by choosing to bring to life some of their characters.

Foreword

Novella Baroni

List of works

Online shopping

Waiting line

Glorious

Walking the dog

Enjoying the view

Notatall

Idiocamera – On standby

Idiocamera – Action

Idiocamera – Re-action

Hero – Scrap iron collector


Hero – Toxic waste recycler

Online shopping

2012

Scrap iron and copper

53 x 101 x 10 cm

Sketch

Waiting line

2012


26 x 22 x 11 cm

Sketch

Glorious

2012


30 x 34 x 16 cm

Detail

Walking the dog

2012


37 x 115 x 10 cm

Sketch

Enjoying the view

2012


35 x 131 x 7 cm

Sketch

Notatall

2012


175 x 15 x 10 cm

Sketch

Idiocamera – On standby

2012


35 x 10 x 12 cm

Sketch

Idiocamera – Action

2012


35 x 11 x 11 cm

Idiocamera – Re-action

2012


31 x 14 x 15 cm

Detail


2011


32 x 26 x 12 cm

DetailDetail

Hero – Toxic waste handler

2011


32 x 15 x 6 cm

Detail

Hero – Toxic waste recycler

2011


23 x 17 x 13 cm

Detail

Matteo Baroni

Documents

Transcript of Matteo Baroni