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 – Scrap iron collector
Hero – Toxic waste recycler