ENGLISH VERSION
As part of Bookcity, on Saturday 20 November at 11.30, Studio Museo Francesco Messina will host the event Maria Cristina Carlini: Story of a Sculptress which includes a preview of the monograph Maria Cristina Carlini, edited by Chiara Gatti and published by Silvana Editoriale, with introductions from speakers Chiara Gatti, Paolo Campiglio, Maria Fratelli and Maria Cristina Carlini and a preview of the docufilm Maria Cristina Carlini: Geologies, Memories of the Earth, produced by Storyville.
The book contains critical essays by Chiara Gatti, Paolo Campiglio, Maria Fratelli and Raffaella Resch, each of whom focuses on aspects that distinguish the sculptress’s production and its central themes: the importance placed on the earth, natural elements, our roots, origins and memory, which Carlini acknowledges as the essence and origin of her work and the impetus for its creation.
Chiara Gatti traces a path that begins with the relationship between Carlini and the essence of woods, forests and coasts. She explores the sculptress’s close bond with nature and observes in her work an unfolding of history from primordial times. Essential moments on this journey are a confrontation with matter and gesture, as well as contact with earth, water and fire – the last of which Carlini sees as the final architect in the creation of an artwork. Paolo Campiglio’s contribution also underlines the link with the ancestral universe, matter and earth. He interprets Carlini’s work in relation to the importance of volume, form and, in particular, vertical and modular structures. From her personal lexicon emerges an attentiveness towards the contemporary world, especially environmental issues, with an orientation towards the future and the protection of nature. In this regard, the image provided by Maria Fratelli is highly evocative: she describes Carlini’s aesthetic philosophy as a concern for ‘embracing the planet’ and discusses her expression of love for Mother Earth and its elements, while recognising the greatness of nature and the sense of amazement it arouses. These aspects are found in the artist’s sculptures through their form, monumental dimensions and the strong energy they transmit. Fratelli’s commentary also contains a reference to the interplay between the artworks of Maria Cristina Carlini and those of Francesco Messina, housed in his studio, which was the venue of the exhibition Geologies, Memories of the Earth, curated by Chiara Gatti and held between 10 July and 8 September 2020, based on a project by Raffaella Resch.
In her essay on Carlini, Raffaella Resch explores the sculptress’s attraction to large dimensions, her ongoing research linked to materials, and the wealth of symbols in her work. Resch also comments on the strong interaction between different eras in Carlini’s art, with its particular attention and orientation towards the future.
The essays are accompanied by an extensive collection of images that document and describe a range of Carlini’s artworks, many of which have never been shown.
The event also includes the presentation of the ten-minute documentary film, Maria Cristina Carlini: Geologies, Memories of the Earth, produced by Storyville. The video, shot mainly in the artist’s studio, reveals an intimate, daily dimension of Carlini’s practice as she is filmed working and moving in a space particularly dear to her: the one where her ideas are conceived and take shape. Carlini’s voice accompanies us throughout the journey as she discusses her art, her vision and her investigations, providing new insight into her work.
Biographical notes. Maria Cristina Carlini began her artistic career in the early 1970s, working in the field of ceramics in Palo Alto, California. She subsequently continued her practice in Brussels and then in Milan, where she focused exclusively on sculpture. From that time on, in addition to her work in terracotta and stoneware, she began to use materials such as iron, Corten steel and recycled wood, creating sculpture of small, medium, but predominantly monumental dimensions. During the course of her career she has been the recipient various awards and honours. She has held solo exhibitions and taken part in group shows in numerous national and international public and private venues, such as Rome, Paris, Madrid, Miami, Denver, Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Her work is on permanent display in three continents: Europe, America and Asia.
She currently lives and works in Milan.
BOOK DETAILS
Publisher Silvana Editoriale
Title Maria Cristina Carlini
Edited by Chiara Gatti
Binding Paperback binding with flaps
Dimensions 21 x 26 cm
Pages180
Illustrations 90
Language Italian, English
Year 2021
ISBN 9788836650088
Price € 32,00
BOOKCITY EVENT
Title Maria Cristina Carlini: Story of a Sculptress
Live streaming Facebook / Youtube IBC Irma Bianchi Communication
Book presentation
Title Maria Cristina Carlini
Edited by Chiara Gatti
Speakers Chiara Gatti, Paolo Campiglio, Maria Fratelli, Maria Cristina Carlini
Publisher Silvana Editoriale
Docufilm presentation
Title Maria Cristina Carlini: Geologies, Memories of the Earth
Produced by Storyville
Venue Studio Museo Francesco Messina, via San Sisto 4/A – Milan
MM1 Cordusio / MM3 Missori
Date Saturday 20 November 2021,11:30
Free entrance, subject to the available number of seats
In accordance with article 3 of Decree n. 105 of 23 July 2021, from 6 August 2021 visitors must show their Green Pass (Covid-19 green certification) together with a valid identity document at the entrance to museums, institutes, places of culture and exhibitions.
Further information tel. 02 86453005
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