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LAZIO MUSEUMS REGIONAL DIRECTION – Viterbo, National Etruscan Museum of Rocca Albornoz

July 8 – September 9  2023
Piazza della Rocca – 01100 Viterbo
Inauguration Saturday July 8, 6pm

Of earth, water and wind
Solo exhibition by Vincenzo Scolamiero

Curated by
Francesca Bottari
Press release

Beneath the vaults of Rocca Albornoz, Vincenzo Scolamiero’s masterpieces, potent images of nature in its primordial form, have been placed alongside carefully chosen works Etruscan of art, an influence and inspiration for the artist’s thoughts and ideas. The exhibition delves into the extensive body of Scolamiero’s work, looking back over the past and opening up future channels of research. A consistent thematic and technical thread rises to the surface, enhancing the artist’s coherent expressive identity.

From July 8, 2023, the National Etruscan Museum of Rocca Albornoz hosts the solo exhibition of Vincenzo Scolamiero, an accomplished Roman artist with an extensive background of art exhibitions both in Italy and abroad. Scolamiero is Professor of Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome.

In the exhibition two distinct energy fields converge. For the first time, Rocca Albornoz has made the bold decision to open the doors to its esteemed archaeological collection for an exhibition of contemporary art. Scolamiero’s lifelong dedication to experimental art can be seen, embracing a variety of figurative mediums. Here, the artist serves up tangible and intangible elements from an ancient world.

Vincenzo Scolamiero’s exhibition is not strictly anthological, but rather a gradual exploration of decades of the artist’s personal evolution. This journey back in time interacts with where his art is on display, providing a chance to view his figurative pieces from a fresh angle. A careful selection of pieces from the museum’s collection respects and complements the artist’s work, echoing the balance required for such a combination.

The four sections of the exhibition showcase around thirty pieces of art, including canvases large and small, papers, and a selection of timber and stone fragments, as always a poetic inspiration for Scolamiero.

In the entrance hall, expansive works portray forms seemingly engaged in a struggle with the belly of the earth, only to re-emerge in titanic and poignant form. Eyes and soul can find calming refuge in the large canvases of the second room, reminiscent of the colours of the sky, unleashed, airy and at the same time unyielding. The third section welcomes the freshness of the wind, unstoppably leaving confusion in its wake as it drifts through clods of earth and stones. Temporary solace can be found beneath Scolamiero’s ethereal veils, which, for years now, he has drawn up over his paintings, pulling any creative impulse together into controlled and rational expression.

Interaction with the Etruscans becomes more pronounced in the final section. Over wide formats, the Earth leaves signs of its passing on the moss, moisture, and mineral-rich waters that add depth to its geological essence. Ancient clay comes back to life in a pictorial concoction. Discourse between cultures lying at distant extremes of time is made possible, opening up the possibility to explore and compare uncharted lands.