DONATO PICCOLO
(Rome 1976)
Donato Piccolo
Donato Piccolo is one of the most remarkable artists of his generation, both in Italy and on
the international scene. He collaborates since several years with Galerie Mario Mazzoli in
Berlin, a unique space dedicated to the artistic exploration of sound and physical
processes associated to it.
In this very peculiar context, where art, science and philosophy are conceived of in an
inseparable way, the artist unveils to us his latest new works. (It is in this very special
context where art, science and philosophy are considered so inseparable that the artist
unveils to us all his latest new works)
Mist, clouds, vapor, whirlwinds constitute some on the visual signatures of the artist,
whose personality is reminiscent of the ancient figure of Empedocles, at the same time
poet, engineer, philosopher and thaumaturge; a hero, who according to the legend was
driven to disappear in the gloomy clouds of Etna by his quest for an ultimate truth.
Indeed a number of sculptures / installations by the artist seem to invite us to penetrate
with our sight at the heart of a thick fog, in view of an experience at once spellbinding and
silent: a kind of art that seeks, according to him, not to replicate a potentially lethal
phenomenon, but to transmute a "physical process" into a "mental state."
The cloud is the constant figure starting from which everything appears, happens, and
then disappears again. It is the cradle of all things. It is also the veil that envelops physical
phenomena and hides from our eyes their origin as their ultimate foundation.
Here, our mind and senses adjust gradually to the diapason of the bubbling and turbulence
of the substance until they resonate with it.
In order to induce such a peculiar resonance phenomenon , most of the artist's works
combine two complementary and inseparable aspects: they are at the same time
sculptures and machines, forms and processes. According to Donato Piccolo, this hybrid
character constitutes the actual nature of «holistic art»: an art whose essential function is
to explore "the incomprehensible mystery of the visible world".
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2014
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Holistic, curated by David Rosenberg, Galerie Mario Mazzoli, Berlin
•
Spider Man, curated da G. Gigliotti and A. Dambruso, Macro Museum, Museum of contemporary Art in
Rome, Italy
2012
•
Butterfly Effect, Paolo Maria Deanesi Gallery, Rovereto
2010
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Instabile reversibile, curated by Marc Wellmann, Galerie Mario Mazzoli, Berlin
•
Reversible Mechanisms, curated by Lidya Pribisova, Space Gallery, Bratislava
2009
•
Meccanismi d'Instabilità, curated by Anne-Marie Sauzeau Boetti and Laura Cherubini, Festival dei
due Mondi, Casa Romana, Spoleto
•
Avant et Devenir, Gallery Riff Art Projects, Paris-Istanbul
2006
•
Housekeeping, curated by Raffaele Gavarro, Soligoart Project, Rome
Selected Group Exhibitions
2014
•
Vestige, Fondation Francès, Senlis, France
•
TRANSIENTE, NODE FESTIVAl, Galleria Civica, Modena
•
Un rumore bianco, Assab One, Milan
•
Digital Life, Romaeuropa festival, Macro, Rome
2013
•
Turbulence II, Villa Empain, Boghossian Foundation, Brussels
•
Le ragioni della pittura. Esiti e prospettive di un medium, Fondazione Malvina Menegaz, Palazzo de
Sanctis, Castelbasso
•
The naturalists, Castelluccio di Pienza-La Foce, Chianciano Terme
•
DIGITAL LIFE-Liquid Landscapes, MACRO Testaccio, Rome
•
The Genesys, Beyond Museum, Seoul
2012
•
A sign on the road said: take us to MADRE!, Helper, New York
•
Periplo della scultura contemporanea 3, Musma, Matera
•
BIOS, George Kolbe Museum, Berlin
•
V. Premio Fondazione VAF. Italienische Kunst Heute, Stadtgalerie Kiel and Museum Biedermann,
Donauschingen
•
Valentini Contemporary, curated by Damiana Leoni, Palazzo Valentini, Rome
•
Costruzione di una metafisica dell’assenza, curated by Elena Abbiatici and Valentina G. Levy, p.zza dei
ricci , Rome
2011
•
Artist in residence ISCP, New York
•
After the crash, curated by Camilla Boemio, Orto Botanico, Rome
•
54. Biennale di Venezia, Padiglione Italia-Lazio, Palazzo Venezia, Rom
•
Affrontare il rosso/Facing the red,curated by Elena Giulia Rossi, Café Europe/Centro di arte
contemporanea, Rome
2010
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Buon Domani/ a better tomorrow, Stefania Miscetti Gallery, Rome
•
11 Mostra Internacional Gas Natural Fenosa, MACUF, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Gas Natural Fenosa in
•
•
Coruña
Entre Glace et Neige. Processi ed energie della natura, curated by Laura Cherubini and Glorianda Cipolla, Centre
Saint Benin, Aosta
Take the Space, curated by Patrizia Ferri, Palazzo della Vicaria, Trapani
2009
•
Physical Conditions gallery crawl, curated by Murray Horne, Wood Street Gallery, Pittsburgh (USA
•
Fondazione Spinola Banna per l’Arte Contemporanea, workshop curated by Gail Chocraine and Luca Vitone, Turin
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Amore e Psiche, curated by Miriam Mirolla, Rocca Albornoziana, Spoleto
•
Usine de reves, curated by Cecilia Casorati and Sabrina Vedovotto, 26cc Center of Contemporary Art, Rome
2008
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Well Darling, I act, Artwork with Maurizio Mochetti, Studio Boetti Gallery, Rome
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Simboli di Ferro, Falce e Martello, Museum of Contemporary Art, L'Aquila
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Le temp au temp, Riff Art Project Gallery, Strasburg
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Here come the Rolling bones, curated by Piero Pala and Benedetta di Loreto, Studio Boetti Gallery, Rome
2007
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Sex is a pain in the ass" curated by Piero Pala, Cinema Avorio, Rome
•
Invite" curated by Benedetta di Loreto and Damiana Leoni, installation by “Bulgari” in Rome
•
52ma Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte, La Biennale di Venezia, Arabian Republic Pavillon, Chiostro di
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S.Francesco della Vigna, Venice
The Cross, Public sculpture, Parco Maria Callas, Sirmione- Gardasee
2006
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Memoria: tracce, curated by Piero Pala - Palazzo Rialtosantambrogio, Rome
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Nerve, curated by Mario de Candia and Patrizia Ferri, Huynnart studio, Rome
•
K-Event”,Performance curated by Fabio Cavallucci, KunstArt, Bozen
•
Biennale Adriatica Arti Nuove, curated by Antonio Arèvalo and Cristiano Seganfreddo - Museo di San Benedetto
•
•
del Tronto
Contemporaneamente, curated by Bruno di Marino and Patrizia Ferri, Artefiera Project - Parma
In Memoria di Valerio Riva, Maretti Prize, Repubblica di San Marino
2005
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Short Movie Festival, Jury preis (Abel Ferrara) with the Film “L’8 vizio” in collaboration with Claudio Stirlani, Rome
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Prize Armellini Foandation, sculpture in Piazza Mondo, Rome
2003
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Cuore 2/Dirty, curated by Manolo Morollòn, Galeria Rayapunto , Salamanca
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LELLO SECONDO MORETTI, Art Project, Rome
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III Biennale Internazionale del Libro d’artista, curated by Mario de Candia, Loredana Rea, Ivana D’agostino, Città di
Cassino
2002
•
Il giornale di Un Solo Giorno, Performance with scupture, Rome
D.Piccolo, exhibition view at GMM
D. Piccolo, Progetto sottovuoto, 2014
mixed media on card board, 160 x 121 cm (frame included), Photo by Philine von Düszeln.
D. Piccolo, Dalla nascita al volto (potenziale esperimento di precisione), 2014
mixed media on card board, 152 x 121 cm (frame included), Photo by Philine von Düszeln.
D.Piccolo, Leonardo sogna le nuvole, 2014
kinetic sculpture, latex, oil, aluminum, smoke machine. motors, electronics, 120 x 45 x 23 cm
D. Piccolo, Progetto per una stella volante, 2014
mixed media on card board, 120 x 168 cm (frame included), Photo by Philine von Düszeln.
D. Piccolo, Ho catturato una stella (2014)
kinetic sculpture, led light, electric circuits, wood, iron, 125 h x 25 x 25 cm
D. Piccolo, Medusa atomica con penna volante, 2014
mixed media on card board, 120 x 203 cm (frame included), Photo by Philine von Düszeln.
D. Piccolo, exhibition view at GMM
D. Piccolo, Nascita del cielo, 2014
mixed media on card board, 120 x 201 cm (frame included), Photo by Philine von Düszeln.
D. Piccolo, Movimento di una farfalla in una tempesta, 2014
mixed media on card board, 120 x 192 cm (frame included), Photo by Philine von Düszeln.
D. Piccolo, exhibition view at GMM
D.Piccolo, Studio di una tempesta, 2014
oil on canvas, 130 x 225 cm.
D. Piccolo, Leonardo sogna Galileo (2014)
oil on canvas, 127 x 173 cm
D. Piccolo, Scomposizione di una nuvola -Tesla's baloon (2014)
sound sculpture, plexiglass, aluminum, electric circuits, water, soap, 140h x 100 x 100 cm
D.Piccolo, Sebastiano (Il nottambulo), 2014
kinetic sculpture, latex, oil, aluminum, smoke machine. motors, electronics, 160h x 90 x 60 cm
D. Piccolo, Macro Orchestra 2014
spray, steel, arduino electronic system, motor, wood, 100 x 120 x 90 cm (each)
D. Piccolo, Butterfly effect, 2013
acciaio, ferro, sistema elettronico, size variable
D. Piccolo, L'occhio di Tesla, 2013
olio su tela, acciaio, legno, plexliglass, fascia siliconica, motore elettrico, generatore Van De Graaff, impianto
audio, woofer, 60 x 50 x 120 cm
D. Piccolo, BE (Butterfly effect) VII, 2013
mixed media on cardboard, 150 x 100 cm
D. Piccolo, BE (Butterfly effect) III, 2013
mixed media on cardboard, 150 x 100 cm
D. Piccolo, Colonna sonora II, 2012
demineralized water, ultrasonic nebulizer, glass, iron zinc, pum, lights, microphon, analog to digital converter,
230x45x45cm. Photo Angelo Sabatiello
D. Piccolo, U.S.A: Union Shock American I, 2012
mixed media on card board, 150 x 110 cm
D. Piccolo, Metamorfosi di un fiore raro, 2012
mixed media on cardboard, 252 x 152 cm
D. Piccolo, Anything which is unstable is in balance with our body, 2012
fiberglass, iron, electric system, led scrolling, 160 x 40 x 30 cm
D. Piccolo, Melodic vacuum, 2012
mixed media on card board, 160 x 110 cm
D. Piccolo, Corsa ad ostacoli, 2011
glass, demineralized water, ultrasonic nebulizer, galvanized iron, fan, halogen lamps 35watt, potentiometer,
205 x 46 x 46 cm. Photo by Fabio Paparelli
D. Piccolo, Primo malditesta, 2011
polyester resin, metal, glass, polyurethane, egg, iron, 86 x 50 x 40 cm.
D. Piccolo, Tenore di fondo, 2011
demineralized water, ultrasonic nebulizer, glass, iron zinc, pump, analog to digital converter, 250x50x50cm.
Photo Simon d'Exe'a.
D. Piccolo, Il Senso delle cose, 2011
mixed media on cardboard, 160 x 240 cm
D. Piccolo, Il Senso delle cose 2, 2011
mixed media on cardboard, 160 x 240 cm
D. Piccolo, Il Senso delle cose 3, 2011
mixed media on cardboard, 160 x 240 cm
D. Piccolo, Hurricane (Nero), 2011
glass, demineralized water, ventilators, ultrasonic nebulizer, halogen lamps, electrical system, microphone,
speaker, 165x52x52 cm. Photo by Angelo Sabatiello
D. Piccolo, Progetto per eruzione combinata, 2011
mixed media on card board, 170 x 110 cm. Photo by Angelo Sabatiello
D. Piccolo, Peso forma, 2011
mixed media on card board, 165 x 110 cm
D. Piccolo, Potassium's explosion, 2011
mixed media on card board, 170 x 110 cm. Photo by Angelo Sabatiello
D. Piccolo, Nrainbow of air, 2011
mixed media on card board, 270 x 150 cm
D.Piccolo, Reversibility of 7 unstable elements, 2010
glass, pvc, electric pumps, microphones, electrical system, timer, iron, water, audio system, 7 objects, each
of 32 x 18 x 105 cm, photo by Thomas Nitz
D. Piccolo, Dream Machine, 2010
galvanized iron, silicon diaphragm, fog machine, smoke fluid, LED light, electric motor, sensor,
150x130x130cm.
D. Piccolo, The Cloud, 2010
pyrex, PVC tubes, hydraulic pump, aluminium, demineralized water, chemical liquid fluid, 40 x 28cm
D. Piccolo, Attese, 2010
mixed media on card board, 200x110cm. Photo Angelo Sabatiello
D. Piccolo, Ostrich's sound, 2010
glass, pyrex, ostrich egg, water, nebulizer, aluminium, speaker, microphone, amplifier, 50 x 30 x 30 cm,
podest 70 x 31 x 31 cm
D. Piccolo, I hope impluvium, 2009
glass, aluminium, water, gas nebulizer, electric motor, hydraulic pumps, neon, speaker, amplifier, 160 x 160 x
160 cm, photo by Ela Bialkowska
D. Piccolo, Cavallo di troia, 2009
mixed media on card board, 106 x115 cm
D. Piccolo, Nuvola a motore, 2009
mixed media on card board, 110 x 78 cm
D. Piccolo, Nuvole pesanti, 2009
mixed media on card board, 170 x 110 cm
D. Piccolo, Petrolio, 2009
mixed media on card board, 80 x 110 cm
D. Piccolo, Nuvola motorizzata, 2009
mixed media on card board, 80 x 110 cm