Contemporary art is a complex phenomenon, the closer it is to us, the harder it is to understand its philosophy or lack of ideology, contemplation or the call to act, in sensuality or the dispassionate evidence of reality.
We can talk a lot about “how the rapid rhythm of life and the struggle for a place under the sun makes us much indifferent to many things, etc”. I will only say that there are some works that make us stop the crazy run around and mentally lean back in a chair in a beautiful park with a glass of cool martini in our hand, to feel exactly where time has stopped for contemplation of the beautiful.
Michele D’Avenia creates an atmosphere when you want to whisper like a spell “Stop this moment!” Whether you like or not the manner of the artist, but you will not pass by his oeuvres.
Born on 9th December 1964, in Sesto San Giovanni (Milan), only after secondary school does he enrol to Accademia di Belle Arti of Reggio Calabria, attending for a short time the Scuola Libera del Nudo.
Very disappointed by this experience, he breaks away from the school in order to start his independent study of pictorial techniques and the Masters of the past.
During these years, he develops a deep interest in decoration and the restoration of ancient paintings. Afterwards, he starts collaborating with specialized laboratories.
He actively joins the national artistic scene, both by taking part to several collective exhibitions and organizing personal exhibitions in Italy and abroad. Many of his paintings and sculptures are now part of important private and public collections. He creates important works for private customers, the last of which is a large painting on a religious subject, representing “Il Compianto” (“The Mourning”).
Since 1994 he has been a scene designer or Teatro Vittorio Emanuele and Sala Laudamo in Messina. In 2004, his sculpture “L’Altra Faccia del Peccato” (“The other face of sin”) was awarded the prestigious prize Arte – sezione scultura. Recently, he has made a monumental sculpture “1 Ottobre 2009” dedicated to the victims of the floods in Giampilieri and Scaletta.
More information on the artist at www.micheledavenia.it
all photos: courtesy of Michele D’Avenia
