COSTA VECE
Opening on 21st April 2005 at 6.30pm
From April 22nd to May 23rd 2005
Galleria Franco Noero
Via Giolitti 52/a, 10123, Torino
Tel: +39.011.882208
Fax: + 39 011 19703024
E-mail: info@franconoero.com
http://www.franconoero.com
For his third solo show at Galleria Franco Noero, Costa Vece, Italian by origin but living in Switzerland, develops, once again, his journey through the definition of an identity concept. From © Tattoo 1992 where the symbol is identified with the person, through ‘Heaven Gates’ 2002, where he recreates a place of living cell, to ‘Revolución- Patriotismo’ 2005, an iconography of patriotism.
As J. Howard Kunstler defined ‘geography of nowhere’, on reacting to the increasingly intolerant position of Switzerland for the foreign population, Costa realizes for the spaces of the Gallery a ‘territory reserved’ for foreigners, for himself, and forbidden to us, Italian citizen: a country into a country. A brick wall fences in and off the via Mazzini space, on building the lines of who is voluntary confined, free but deprived of freedom that are recognized to citizen.
“Archi-sculptures” entirely realized with clothes from Swiss flew markets (t- shirts, underpants, jeans, socks, etc.) redefine the renovated space of Via Giolitti: the effect is colourful drapes coming one after the other, textile fabrics sew to draw flags. The viewer confronts himself with a spatial situation that, with the lightness of flags hanging from the ceiling as the wash at the clothesline, gives rise to a multi-ethnic space where everyone can identify himself and does not feel any difference.
Costa Vece’s installations are distinguished by the intensity of a dialogue with existential and emotional questions mixed with a melancholic perception; an iconographic slogan across collective memory and cultural transgression.
Costa Vece was born in Herisau, Switzerland in 1969. He lives and works in Zurich and Berlin. Among his recent solo shows: 2005, N/B, Costa Vece and San Keller, Attitudes, Ginevra; 2004, ‘La fin du monde’, Kunsthalle Schirn, Frankfurth; Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich. Among the group exhibitions: 2004 ‘Tell, bitte melden!’, Musée Suisse, Forum der Schweizer Geschichte, Schwyz; 2003, Spread in Prato, Prato; Moltitudini-Solitudini, Museion, Bolzano/Bozen; Re-View and Collection-Frozen, Snow, White, Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Zurich.
At Art|36|Basel Galleria Franco Noero will present new works by Tom Burr, Lara Favaretto, Henrik Håkansson, Gabriel Kuri, Muntean & Rosenblum, Steven Shearer, Simon Starling, Costa Vece, Francesco Vezzoli.
At ART UNLIMITED, will present ‘After Forever (ever all)’ by Henrik Håkansson.
Arturo Herrera: will show from May 31st until July 31st new works especially created for the gallery’ space, accompanied by a catalogue published in collaboration with Brent Sikkema.
Simon Starling will open on September the 21st until the end of October 2005.