Michael Rizzi, an esteemed Italian artist born in Turin in 1971, channels the essence of continuity and transformation through his evocative sculptures and paintings. Renowned for his captivating sculptures, notably the “Condensation and dispersion of matter” series, Rizzi explores the interplay between solidity and void, employing steel, wire, and iron mesh to convey the nuanced intricacies of materiality.
In a departure from traditional sculptural practices, Rizzi’s approach involves not merely subtracting excess material but delicately scoring and measuring the quantity of material to evoke a sense of controlled discontinuity. His sculptures predominantly feature human, organic, and vegetal forms, influenced by a diverse array of artistic traditions, from ancient Minoan art to the sculptures of Alberto Giacometti and contemporary Japanese manga.
Central to Rizzi’s artistic philosophy is the concept of incompleteness and deficiency as sources of fascination, reminiscent of archaeological ruins that speak to both the past and the future. He envisions his sculptures as artefacts unearthed from a distant future, possessing a dual aesthetic value that merges archaic nostalgia with futuristic innovation. Themes of heroism, courage, and existential contemplation permeate his works, inviting viewers to ponder humanity’s place within the vast expanse of the cosmos.
In parallel to his sculptural endeavours, Rizzi’s painting traverses a spectrum from figurative landscapes of the future to abstract compositions influenced by the works of Gerhard Richter. Yet, despite apparent distinctions, his paintings echo the thematic underpinnings of his sculptures, exploring the convergence of past and future, solidity and fluidity, through a kaleidoscope of colours and forms.
Both Rizzi’s sculptures and paintings serve as conduits for his exploration of the future as an amalgamation of past and present, a swirling vortex of space-time that yields infinite shades of emotion and possibility. Through his art, Michael Rizzi invites us to embrace the enigmatic dance of existence, where past and future intertwine in a cosmic symphony of creation and transformation.